diagnostics
16-18 cm, 25 g. A unique, brightly coloured pipit of high-lying grasslands. Adults show slight dimorphism in colour in the breeding season (the female having a more buffy and less streaked breast), but the sexes are similar in size. The only pipit in the region with a yellow throat and breast. Unmistakable in breeding plumage, with bright lemon-yellow underparts; central belly and vent paler. Dorsally, grey brown with distinct scaling formed by pale edges to dark mantle feathers. Axillaries and most of underwing coverts bright yellow, greater underwing coverts black with white tips. Outermost rectrices mostly white. Legs and feet yellowish pink to pinkish. Hind-claw long. Bill dark horn with a variable greyish or orange-yellow base to lower mandible. Non-breeding birds are duller in colouration, lacking the diagnostic yellow underparts, and are consequently probably widely overlooked; such birds still retain a yellow spot on the central belly and yellow underwing coverts. Juvenile similar to non-breeding adult, but shows a yellowish wash below (Keith et al. 1992, Peacock 2006).
