American Pipits - 12 Nov 2025

 

Shout-out to Bobby Irwin for reporting 2-dozen American Pipits (Anthus rubescens rubescens) at the Humbug Marsh Unit of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge yesterday morning. The birds were spotted in the mudflats just west of the boardwalk at the south end of the short-loop trail. 

This morning I decided to take a ride to the Refuge to see if they might still be around. Arriving at 9 am under mostly cloudy skies and breezy conditions (39ºF) I headed to the short-loop trail. A walk down to the shoreline next to the bridge and drain yielded no birds other than a pair of Canada Geese. Farther down the shoreline next to the eagle deck six Killdeer were foraging next to the Detroit River.

The trail was otherwise quiet. When I arrived at the boardwalk at the south end of the trail I scoped the Monguagon Delta for signs of the pipits. As luck would have it I spotted one, then a pair, and several more American Pipits foraging among the exposed algae bed where water had drained out.

Several of the 20 American Pipits counted were foraging close enough to the boardwalk that I could photograph them using the Sony a1 and 600 f/4 lens. These birds appear to be A. r. rubescens based on the distinct throat and dark chest streaking that is more muted in the paler A. r. pacificus subspecies of the west coast, and the A. r. alticola subspecies (southwest) that lacks chest markings altogether.

The distinctive ID marks for this bird is the buffy supercillium (eye brow), malar (below the cheek patch) and throat against a tan / gray head, nape and back. Black chest streaks transitioning onto a buffy chest and flanks. The tail is dark w/ white outer retrices (tail feathers). 

The entire flock suddenly flew to the west over the trees, but 8 of the birds were refound back on the mudflats a few minutes later. I could hear then "pipping" nearby and had to really look to find the birds a bit farther south on the mudflats.

American Pipits are arctic breeders, so we only see then through migration. So, its always nice to see them along beaches and shorelines during spring and fall migrations. Here in Michigan they are a bit uncommon so its always a treat when they are found.

I continued along the trail and ran into flocks of American Robins and White-throated Sparrows moving through the woods. At the north end of the trail I walked west toward the west trail and came across a pair of Ruby-crowned Kinglets next to the trail.

To my left in the dogwood trees several Rusty Blackbirds were foraging close enough to photograph.

As I walked back toward the entrance the ditch to my left held moving flocks of Rusty Blackbirds,

Cedar Waxwings,

more Rusty Blackbirds,

and my first Fox Sparrow of the season!

At the base of the ditch a White-throated Sparrow and a Swamp Sparrow were taking a bath in the shallow water but were blocked by tree branches. My first American Tree Sparrow would then pop out of the branches for just a moment before disappearing.

As I was walking back to the car a Song Sparrow appeared next to the now-thawing ponds next to the parking lot.

American Pipits are always a nemesis bird so I was thrilled to have seen them this morning. Thanks again, Bobby!

Detroit River IWR--Refuge Gateway (Humbug Marsh), Wayne, Michigan, US
Nov 12, 2025 9:44 AM - 11:04 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.721 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Pt sunny, breezy, 40F
27 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  2
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  6
Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)  4
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  6
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  14
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  2
Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  2
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  4
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula)  2
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)  2
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  14
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)  6
American Pipit (Anthus rubescens)  20     Continuing in Monguagon Delta next to boardwalk at s end of short loop trail. Pics.
American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea)  1
Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)  1
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)  1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  24
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  1
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  2
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)  6
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S284147076

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)