Paddyfield Pipit

The paddyfield pipit, or Oriental pipit, is a large pipit about 15cm long but otherwise undistinguished: streaked grey-brown above and pale below with a streaked breast, long legs, a long tail and a long dark bill. The sexes and seasons look alike, and young birds are richer below with more prominent breast spotting (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is one of the few pipits that breed in the region and is resident in open scrub, grassland and cultivation, especially short grass with bare ground. It runs quickly over the ground and, when flushed, does not fly far. In winter it must be separated from Richard's and Blyth's pipits, but it is smaller and dumpier with a shorter-looking tail and a weak, fluttering flight, and its usual call is a distinctive chip-chip-chip. It breeds through much of the year, mainly in the dry season (Wikipedia, general species account).