The red-throated pipit is a small passerine bird, which breeds in the far north of Europe and the Palearctic, with a foothold in northern Alaska. It is a long-distance migrant, wintering to Africa and South-East Asia and western Alaska in North America. It is vagrant to Western Europe.
Region
Arctic Eurasia and western Alaska
Typical Environment
Breeds across northern Scandinavia and vast areas of Arctic Russia east to Chukotka, with a small breeding population in western and northern Alaska. In the non-breeding season it disperses widely to eastern and southern Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Typical breeding habitats include wet tundra, boggy meadows, and marshy coastal plains with low vegetation. During migration and winter it frequents floodplains, rice paddies, damp fields, and grassy coastal flats. It occasionally appears as a vagrant in Western Europe and elsewhere.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2500 m
Climate Zone
Polar
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The red-throated pipit breeds on Arctic and subarctic tundra across northern Eurasia with a small foothold in Alaska, then migrates long distances to winter in Africa and Southeast Asia. Breeding males show a distinctive reddish to brick-red throat and face, while non-breeding birds are more buff and heavily streaked. They often give a sharp, high 'pssst' call in flight and perform display flights over breeding territories. On migration and in winter they gather in flocks in open fields, marsh edges, and coastal grasslands.
Anthus cervinus - MHNT
Temperament
wary and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with bounding, undulating flight
Social Behavior
Often forms small to medium flocks during migration and in winter, sometimes mixed with other pipits and wagtails. On the breeding grounds it is territorial and typically monogamous, nesting on the ground in a grass-lined cup concealed in low vegetation. Clutches usually contain 4–6 eggs, and both parents help feed the young.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
Song is delivered in a brief display flight or from a perch, consisting of thin, tinkling phrases that descend and fade. Calls are sharp, high-pitched 'pssst' or 'tsee' notes, often given in flight and useful for detection over open habitats.
Plumage
Breeding males show a rich red to brick-red throat and face with a bold whitish supercilium, heavily streaked brown upperparts, and whitish underparts thickly streaked on the breast and flanks. Non-breeding birds are more buff and less vividly colored but retain strong streaking and pale 'braces' on the mantle. Tail shows white outer feathers visible in flight.
Diet
Primarily takes insects and other small invertebrates such as flies, beetles, caterpillars, and spiders. During non-breeding periods it may also consume small seeds and occasional berries. Foraging is mostly by walking and picking prey from the ground or low vegetation, sometimes sallying for small flying insects. It benefits from wet, muddy edges where invertebrates are abundant.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in open, damp habitats including wet tundra, bog margins, rice paddies, flooded fields, and grassy shores. In winter it often uses agricultural areas and fallow fields with short vegetation, where it can forage in small flocks.
