South Georgia Pipit [Anthus antarcticus]
Description
The South Georgia Pipit is a small passerine bird, known to be the only songbird in Antarctica. It has brown, streaked plumage and a thin bill. It is endemic to South Georgia Island and feeds on invertebrates. The bird nests on the ground, making it vulnerable to predation by rats, which has led to a decline in its population. Conservation efforts are in place to eradicate rats from the island.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Chordates
Chordata
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Birds
Aves
|
| Order |
Albatrosses, Petrels, and Shearwaters
Procellariiformes
|
| Family |
Diving Petrels
Pelecanoididae
|
| Genus |
South Georgian
Pelecanoides
|