Richard's Pipit Anthus richardi Scientific name definitions

17–18 cm; 21–40 g. Large pipit with long, stout legs, long toes, very long hind claw. Nominate race has long creamy to buff supercilium tapering at rear, pale cream-buff eyering and lores, occasionally darkish loral stripe; prominent dark malar stripe and patch, pale buff-brown patch on rear cheek; above, buff-brown to dun-brown, streaked blackish, lower back and rump less streaked; primaries, secondaries and primary coverts dark brown with narrow white edges, tertials and secondary wing-coverts tipped and edged rufous or buff, greater coverts paler with broad sandy-buff edges and tips, median coverts blackish-centred with broad buffish-white margins, lesser coverts sandy brown; tail blackish-brown, edges of T1 tinged rufous with broad buff-brown edging, T5 and T6 with outer web and much of distal inner web white; upper throat white, lower throat, breast and flanks deep buff, belly white, band of fine blackish streaks across breast and upper flanks; underwing-coverts and axillaries creamy buff to buff-grey; iris dark brown; upper mandible dark grey, lower mandible pale pink, sometimes yellowish; legs and toes pale pink or yellowish-pink, hind claw (14–22 mm) longer than hind toe. Sexes alike. Juvenile has unmarked pale lores, pale feather edges on upperparts giving scaly effect, two indistinct pale wingbars, is more sharply streaked below; pale edgings lost by first winter. Race centralasiae is paler than nominate, has less contrasting streaks on upperparts, yellower underparts; dauricus is similar to previous, but has less stout legs and shorter hind claw than nominate; ussuriensis is darker, greyer, and with darker streaks than last, is rather small, with relatively longer hind claw; sinensis is smallest, with relatively short tail and hind claw, breast and flanks more deeply tinged rufous, fainter streaks on mantle than previous.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Any open country, steppe grassland, paddyfields, stubble fields and cultivations, edges of reservoirs and marshy areas. Usually below 1800 m; in Himalayas, recorded on passage to 6300 m on Mt Everest.

Long-distance migrant; winters mostly in S parts of Asia E to Philippines and W New Guinea, and S to Sundas . Race sinensis probably remains mostly within SE China. Nominate race migrates mainly to Indian Subcontinent, but regular winterer also in S Europe (Atlantic coast, Mediterranean region), NW Africa and Middle East ; peak numbers in latter regions in Dec–Feb, e.g. flocks of up to 29 in Spain, 33 in Italy (Sardinia) and 15 in Morocco; in Israel also regular passage migrant, with up to 420 recorded in autumn (mid-Sept to Dec), fewer in spring, suggesting that some migrate to E Africa. Observations in W Africa (Mali and around L Chad) also suggest possible wintering in that region. In addition, nominate race recorded as vagrant in most countries of W Europe , well to W of main breeding and wintering range. Some migrants of E races may reach N Australia.

Mainly adult and larval insects, notably beetles (Coleoptera) and grasshoppers (Orthoptera). Of 48 samples obtained in studies using neck-collars, 93·7% contained grasshoppers, 8% beetles, 6% hymenopterans, 6% spiders (Araneae). Of 149 items in further samples, 24% were caterpillars (Lepidoptera), 19·5% flies (Diptera), 16% beetles, 15% hymenopteran adults and larvae, 12% dragonflies (Odonata), 5% spiders, just over 1% each stoneflies (Plecoptera) and worms (Annelida), and less than 1% lacewings (Neuroptera) and homopteran bugs. In winter in Europe, a butterfly, an ichneumon wasp (Hymenoptera), a ladybird (Coccinellidae) and seed mix were eaten. Forages on the ground, picking terrestrial invertebrates. May associate with grazing livestock.

Song  , usually in flight, “chewee-chewee-chewee” with much individual variation, 3–12 notes. Call a loud, harsh explosive “r-rump” or “schreep”.