Long-billed or Mountain pipit (South Africa) (1 Viewer)

[pietrod]

End of October, Golden gate highlands national park (SA)
c.ca 2400 meters high, highland plain but not far from a rocky slope.

Very Pink bill base (exclude African pipit) but the back is not as marked as I would expect for mountain...I am puzzled.
Unfortunately breast markings are not fully visible and external rectrices are hidden.
It didn't vocalize.
Is it possible from these pics tell apart A. hoeschi from A. similis; if so, how?

 

[andyb39]

It doesn't look much like a Long-billed Pipit to me, but that's about as far as I can take it.

 

[pietrod]

Thank you for your comment Andy!
The long billed pipit is a complex species with distinct morphology across the distribution range...

The population of South Africa might even be recognized soon as a distinct species. In fact, a recent study (Multi-locus phylogeny of African pipits and longclaws (Aves: Motacillidae) highlights taxonomic inconsistencies) found A. similis to be paraphyletic! I copy from the paper:

As the disjunct populations of Long-billed Pipit A. similis in southern and East Africa are genetically distinct and geographically separated, we propose specific status for the southern African population under the earliest available name, Nicholson’s Pipit A. nicholsoni.


Any other comment are warmly welcome!

 

[andyb39]

Perhaps I should have said it doesn't look like the LBPs I'm familiar with!

 

[pietrod]

Perhaps I should have said it doesn't look like the LBPs I'm familiar with!

:t:

In the middle east, right?

 

[andyb39]

:t:

In the middle east, right?

Yes