A small bird belonging to one of more than 40 species in the genus Anthus (family Motacillidae), found worldwide except for dry deserts and Antarctica. Pipits are about 20 cm long, slender with a short neck and long tail, drab-coloured, and with long hind claws. They occur in a wide range of habitats, spend much of their time on the ground, and feed mainly on small invertebrates.