It is the only songbird in Antarctica, South Georgia's only passerine, and one of the few non-seabirds of the region.

It feeds on small insects and spiders, and beach debris.

It has been chosen as the poster bird of the South Georgia Heritage Trust's Habitat Restoration (Rat Eradication) project, which started eradicating rats on South Georgia in 2011.

The project's baiting phase ended in early 2015, and success was confirmed in 2018.

[4] Prior to the restoration it was rare to see South Georgia pipits, most often on the rat-free Prion Island.