American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) is in the Wagtails and Pipits family (Motacillidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 17,307 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in January.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: winter visitor. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph American Pipit: observations by month (U.S.)
About American Pipit
The buff-bellied pipit (Anthus rubescens), or American pipit as it is known in North America, is a small songbird found on both sides of the northern Pacific. It was first described by Marmaduke Tunstall in his 1771 Ornithologia Britannica. It was formerly classified as a form of the water pipit.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
American Pipit by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 6,733 | November | Oct–Mar |
| Texas | 3,649 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Colorado | 777 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Washington | 596 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Arizona | 472 | January | Oct–Feb |
| Oregon | 422 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Michigan | 259 | October | Sep–Nov |
| Alaska | 254 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Maryland | 235 | January | Jan–Feb |
| New Mexico | 235 | April | Oct–Apr |
| Nevada | 214 | December | Oct–Apr |
| Ohio | 198 | April | Jan–May |
| New York | 187 | October | Oct–Jan |
| Utah | 187 | November | Oct–Feb |
| Illinois | 182 | May | Mar–May |
| Montana | 181 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Massachusetts | 171 | October | Sep–Nov |
| Idaho | 168 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Louisiana | 165 | January | Dec–Feb |
| Pennsylvania | 156 | November | Sep–May |
| Wyoming | 154 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Minnesota | 138 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Oklahoma | 120 | April | Nov–Apr |
| Virginia | 112 | January | Dec–Feb |
| Tennessee | 111 | January | Dec–Feb |
| North Carolina | 106 | January | Oct–Feb |
| Florida | 85 | November | Nov–Feb |
| Vermont | 79 | September | Sep–Nov |
| Missouri | 70 | November | Oct–Dec |
| Kansas | 68 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Alabama | 67 | January | Dec–Feb |
| Georgia | 63 | February | Nov–Mar |
| Connecticut | 61 | November | Oct–Jan |
| Arkansas | 59 | February | Oct–Feb |
| New Jersey | 59 | November | Oct–Feb |
| New Hampshire | 54 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Wisconsin | 51 | May | May–May |
| Kentucky | 48 | February | Feb–Feb |
| Indiana | 46 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Maine | 46 | September | Sep–Nov |
| South Carolina | 45 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Nebraska | 39 | March | Mar–May |
| South Dakota | 34 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Mississippi | 33 | January | Nov–Feb |
| Delaware | 26 | November | Nov–Feb |
| West Virginia | 25 | December | Oct–Dec |
| North Dakota | 21 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Rhode Island | 20 | February | Jan–Feb |
| District of Columbia | 17 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Iowa | 9 | April | Apr–Apr |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph American Pipit?
Nationally, January has the most observations, with the main season from October to April.
Where is American Pipit most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, Colorado.