Living in isolation - observations on African Rock Pipits in the Northern Cape

Abstract

My study so far shows that the song differences between different African Rock Pipit populations may be attributed to the isolation of populations of this species on hilly areas separated by unsuitable plains habitat (see de Swardt 2010). This is a remarkably adaptable species, with western birds occurring in semi-arid karroid shrub on barren hills, while in the eastern parts of its range this pipit inhabits mesic, temperate alpine grasslands.