Tag: Richard’s Pipit

This photo, taken in Xinjiang in July, shows long hind claw of Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi. Long hind claws and diamond-shaped blackish centers to median coverts of Richard’s Pipit help distinguish it from Blyth’s Pipit A. godlewskii. (Craig Brelsford)

Richard’s Pipit, Jiangsu, China. Alström et al. urge birders to use care in ID’ing Blyth’s and Richard’s. Here, the median coverts (bottom R, inset) of this Richard’s appear squarish, like Blyth’s. But note the date of the photo: 5 September, a time of year when most Richard’s show worn plumage. The authors write: “In worn plumage the shape of the dark centres to the secondary coverts is generally less obviously different, and the pale tips can be much the same colour in both species.” The ID of this Richard’s was derived from its call, a more constant feature, and not from the appearance of its worn median coverts. (Craig Brelsford)

Comparison of Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi “sinensis” (1) and Blyth’s Pipit A. godlewskii (4). The putative taxon ‘sinensis’ occurs in southeast China south of the Yangtze and is the smallest population group within Richard’s Pipit. Structurally it is similar to Blyth’s Pipit. Note however the blackish centers to the median coverts (2, 3). In Richard’s (2), the blackish centers are (a) diamond-shaped and (b) a bit fuzzy at the edges. In Blyth’s (3), the blackish centers are squarish and more clearly defined. For years, Shanghai birders have been looking out for extralimital Blyth’s Pipit. They are extremely rare or non-existent in the area. 1, 2: Cape Nanhui, Shanghai, December. 3, 4: Inner Mongolia, China, July. (Craig Brelsford)

Richard’s Pipit, Cape Nanhui, December. (Craig Brelsford)

Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi is a large, long-legged pipit with a long hind claw and long tail. Breeds Central Asia to Sea of Okhotsk. Large range in China, with dauricus breeding northwest Heilongjiang, centralasiae in Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu, and Inner Mongolia, ussuriensis eastern China north of Yangtze to Sichuan, and population group “sinensis” southeast China south of Yangtze. Winters mainly India and Indochina, also southeast Chinese provinces, including Hainan. Common passage migrant and winter visitor Shanghai. HABITAT & BEHAVIOR Grassy areas, in breeding season wetter (lakeshores, edges of marshes), in winter drier. Stands upright when alert; often hovers before landing in tall grass. ID & COMPARISON Very similar to Paddyfield Pipit A. rufulus, Blyth’s Pipit A. godlewskii, and Tawny Pipit A. campestris; less similar to Upland Pipit A. sylvanus. Crown and upperparts brown, heavily streaked black. Buffish supercilium, pale, unmarked lores, and black malar stripe that broadens into triangle at base and merges with black streaking on lower neck and upper breast. Throat white; breast and flanks buffy-brown, with band of streaks across breast; belly white. Median and greater coverts have pointy black centers with white or buff fringes. Long tail has white edges. Differences among ssp. difficult to appreciate in field, but dauricus has more streaking above, centralasiae is larger with buffier upperparts, ussuriensis is darker and greyer, and “sinensis” is smaller and less streaked above. Paddyfield Pipit is smaller and has lighter streaking on crown, smaller feet and hind claw, and proportionately shorter tail. Blyth’s Pipit is smaller and has shorter bill, legs, and hind claw and buffier belly and less white on tail (variable). (Note that breeding Richard’s Pipit in southeast China [“sinensis”] is even more similar to Blyth’s Pipit than northern races; best defined by voice.) Tawny Pipit has black loral stripe (rarely indistinct or missing), is faintly streaked, and is greyish-brown above; juvenile Tawny similar to Richard’s, but note dark loral stripe and structural differences. Upland Pipit stockier and more heavily streaked above, showing more streaking on flanks and less obvious wing bands; occurs on grassy mountainsides; Richard’s rarely occurs in that habitat. BARE PARTS Long bill grey above, yellowish-pink below; legs long, pink, with noticeably long hind claw. VOICE Song, usually given in display flight, consists of very simple, buzzing notes, different from zret notes of Blyth’s Pipit. Call an explosive, sparrow-like shreep. — Craig Brelsford

THE PIPITS AND WAGTAILS OF CHINA

shanghaibirding.com has research on all 21 species in the family Motacillidae in China. Click any link below:

Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus
Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
Eastern Yellow Wagtail M. tschutschensis
Citrine Wagtail M. citreola
Grey Wagtail M. cinerea
White Wagtail M. alba
Japanese Wagtail M. grandis
White-browed Wagtail M. maderaspatensis
Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi
Paddyfield Pipit A. rufulus
Blyth’s Pipit A. godlewskii
Tawny Pipit A. campestris
Meadow Pipit A. pratensis
Tree Pipit A. trivialis
Olive-backed Pipit A. hodgsoni
Pechora Pipit A. gustavi
Rosy Pipit A. roseatus
Red-throated Pipit A. cervinus
Buff-bellied Pipit A. rubescens
Water Pipit A. spinoletta
Upland Pipit A. sylvanus

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