Red-throated Pipit

The Red-throated Pipit, Anthus cervinus, is a diminutive passerine, a member of the Motacillidae family. During the breeding season, the adult is distinguished by its brick-red face and throat, a feature that gives this bird its common name.

Identification Tips

Outside of the breeding season, the Red-throated Pipit may be confused with other pipits due to its less distinctive appearance. It is heavily streaked brown above with whitish mantle stripes, and below, it has black markings on a white background. The cap, back, flank, rump, and chest are marked with a greater number of streaks compared to similar species, giving it a more striped appearance. Its flight is strong and direct, and it can be identified by a characteristic 'psii' call in flight.

Habitat

The Red-throated Pipit favors open country for breeding, including mountainous areas, marshlands, and tundra.

Distribution

This species breeds in the far north of Europe, across the Palearctic, and has a presence in northern Alaska. It is a long-distance migrant, wintering in Africa, South and East Asia, and the West Coast of the United States. Occasionally, it appears as a vagrant in Western Europe.

Behaviour

The Red-throated Pipit constructs its nest on the ground, often beside a tussock of grass, on rough grassland, or on a hummock in a marsh. The nest is crafted from dry grasses and sedges, with a soft lining of reindeer hair or down. After a two-week incubation period by the female, the young are ready to fledge and leave the nest approximately 12 days later.

Diet and Feeding

Insectivorous by nature, the Red-throated Pipit also includes seeds in its diet.

Conservation status

With an estimated global population of around two million individuals, the Red-throated Pipit is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. The population is believed to be stable, and the species does not currently face significant threats.