---
title: "Plain-backed Pipit"
description: "Anthus leucophrys — Birds. The plain-backed pipit or plain pipit (Anthus leucophrys) is a medium-sized passerine bird which is a resident breeder in Africa south of the Sahara Desert."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/plain-backed-pipit
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Plain-backed Pipit

> Anthus leucophrys — Birds. The plain-backed pipit  or plain pipit (Anthus leucophrys) is a medium-sized passerine bird which is a resident breeder in Africa south of the Sahara Desert.

- Scientific name: *Anthus leucophrys*
- Category: `birds` (Birds)
- Habitats: `grassland` (Fields & meadows), `farm` (Farm)
- iNaturalist observations: 1224
- Wikidata: [Q3726273](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3726273)
- iNaturalist taxon: [13708](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13708)

## Names

- en: Plain-backed Pipit
- de: Braunrückenpieper
- es: Bisbita Liso
- fr: Pipit à dos uni
- pt: Petinha-de-dorso-liso
- pl: Świergotek gładki

## Countries with the most observations

ZA (443), KE (164), UG (62), TZ (58), BW (50), GH (16), CD (13), RW (13), LR (12), GM (11), ET (10), NG (10)

## Summary

The plain-backed pipit  or plain pipit (Anthus leucophrys) is a medium-sized passerine bird which is a resident breeder in Africa south of the Sahara Desert.
It is found in open habitats, especially short grassland and cultivation. It builds its cup-shaped nest on the ground and usually lays three eggs. Like other pipits, this species is insectivorous.

The plain-backed pipit is a large pipit at 17 cm, but is otherwise an undistinguished looking species, faintly streaked grey-brown above and pale below with light breast streaking. It has a strong white supercilium, and dark moustachial stripes. It has long legs and…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain-backed_pipit

## Photo

![Plain-backed Pipit](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/plain-backed-pipit/medium.jpg)

Photo: Irene · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/321549457

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/plain-backed-pipit?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).