Richard's pipit

Richard's pipit is a medium-sized passerine bird which breeds in open grasslands in the East Palearctic. It is a long-distance migrant moving to open lowlands in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is a rare but regular vagrant to western Europe.

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Distribution

Region

East Palearctic and South Asia

Typical Environment

Breeds in temperate open grasslands, steppes, and fallow agricultural fields from eastern Europe and Siberia through Mongolia and northern China. In winter it favors open lowlands across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, including rice paddies, stubble, and coastal meadows. It also occurs on migration in similar open habitats and is a scarce but regular vagrant in western Europe. It prefers wide, unobstructed vistas with short to medium vegetation and scattered shrubs or clumps of taller grass.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 2500 m

Climate Zone

Temperate

Characteristics

Size17–20 cm

Wing Span28–32 cm

Male Weight0.03 kg

Female Weight0.028 kg

Life Expectancy6 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

Richard's pipit is a large, long-legged pipit of open country, noted for its loud, carrying 'shreep' flight call. It breeds across the East Palearctic and migrates to lowland fields and grasslands of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is a regular vagrant to western Europe, where its distinctive size, long hindclaw, and call aid identification.

Gallery

Near Hodal in Haryana, India

Richard's pipit – head turn

Anthus richardi - MHNT

Behaviour

Temperament

wary and alert

Flight Pattern

strong flier with shallow undulations and bounding phases

Social Behavior

Typically seen singly or in small loose groups outside the breeding season. Nests on the ground in a grass-lined cup, often concealed in tussocks, with both parents involved in rearing the young. Displays include song flights over territory during the breeding season.

Migratory Pattern

Seasonal migrant

Song Description

Song is a simple, thin series of high notes delivered from a perch or in a brief song flight. The loud, buzzy 'shreep' or 'shreep-it' flight call carries far and is often the first clue to its presence.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

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