From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Pipit \Pip"it\, n. [So named from its call note.] (Zool.)
Any one of numerous species of small singing birds belonging
to Anthus and allied genera, of the family
Motacillid[ae]. They strongly resemble the true larks in
habits, colors, and the great length of the hind claw. They
are, therefore, often called titlarks, and pipit larks.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis); the tree
pipit, or tree lark (Anthus trivialis); and the
rock pipit, or sea lark (Anthus obscurus) are
well-known European species. The common American pipit,
or brown lark, is Anthus Pensilvanicus. The Western
species (Anthus Spraguei) is called the American
skylark, on account of its musical powers.
[1913 Webster]