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

Leg Colorpinkish-brown

Eye Colordark brown

Plumage

Streaked brown upperparts with darker mantle streaks and paler fringes, buff underparts with fine streaking on the breast, and cleaner buff to whitish belly.

Feeding Habits

Diet

Feeds mainly on insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, ants, and flies, as well as spiders and other small invertebrates. It mostly takes prey from the ground by walking with purposeful strides and making short dashes. Seeds and small grains may be taken opportunistically, especially in winter stubble.

Preferred Environment

Forages in open grassy fields, steppe, pastures, harvested croplands, and rice paddies, often where vegetation is short to moderately tall. It frequently uses field margins, paths, and sparsely vegetated patches for easier prey capture.

Population

Total Known Populationunknown

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