Olive-backed Pipits wintering in Rabat, Morocco - 12th February 2025

Just after 1pm on the 10th February, whilst exploring Rabat, and at the suggestion of local ornithologist and PhD student, Mohammed Hilmi, I visited Fôret Moulay Abdellah to look for Levaillant's Woodpecker.

Ten or so minutes after arriving I disturbed a pipit from the floor.  it flew up into the tree where it joined another individual.  I was confused to see what I thought had to be early migratory Tree Pipits, and continued my wandering, hearing at least one Levaillant's Woodpecker amongst other usually present birds.

Later that evening, it was suggested by Abdassamad Annoury that they may have been Olive Backed Pipits!  The penny dropped, I realised he was right and now had to go back to try and see and photograph them.


Unfortunately, we couldn't go the next day as I was accompanying Mohammed to one of his Brown-throated Martin surveying areas, but we went back on the 12th February instead, arriving at midday.

It took much longer to find one this time but eventually, one was found.  We saw it well as it perched in one of the pine trees, but didn't manage any photos sadly.  We saw one several times and decided that there could still be two birds present, although could confirm only one this time.

It had been about eight years since Pedro Fernandes discovered the presence of Olive-backed Pipits in Rabat.  According to memory, (with the help of some previous ebird research), he has up to 12 birds and various locations during his stay in Morocco. 

I tried to encourage visiting birders to check for this species if they were passing Rabat, and hopefully photograph them, but I could not inspire anybody this time. 



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