Spur pipit
| Spur pipit | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spur pipit ( Anthus richardi ) |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Anthus richardi | ||||||||||||
| Vieillot , 1818 |
The spur pipit ( Anthus richardi ) is a species of bird from the family of stilts and pipits . The species inhabits the steppe areas in East Asia and winters in southern Asia. However, spur pipit also regularly migrate westwards in small numbers and are observed annually on the coasts of Western and Central Europe. Most of the evidence is available from mid-September to November.
features
The spur pipit is the largest pipit found in Central Europe. It reaches a body length of 17 to 20 centimeters. Compared to other beepers, the species is noticeably long-legged and long-toed, the rear claw is also very long and very straight. The upper side is darkly striped lengthways on a brownish background. The throat and flanks are warm beige to rust-colored, the throat is also clearly darkly striped. The rest of the fuselage is white on the underside.
distribution and habitat
The distribution area of the spur pipit includes the steppes of East Asia from eastern Kazakhstan and western Siberia via Mongolia to the east to the Pacific . It mainly inhabits moist to wet grass steppes in the plains as well as on mountain slopes. During the migration, the species is also regularly observed in the agricultural landscape, especially on fallow land and stubble fields, as well as on flat coasts and sandy banks.
Reproduction
The nest is built one to two weeks after arrival in the breeding area. The nest is created on the ground in a self-dug hollow in the vegetation. Complete clutches were found in Siberia in the second half of June. The clutch consists of 4–6, mostly 4–5 eggs, which are very dense brownish, olive or gray spotted and dashed. Information on the incubation period and the nestling period is not available.
hikes
The withdrawal from the breeding areas takes place in mid-August to September. The species winters in southern Asia. The arrival in the breeding areas takes place in mid-April to the end of May. However, spur pipit also regularly migrate west in small numbers in autumn and are observed every year on the coasts of Western and Central Europe. Most of the evidence is available from mid-September to November. It is still unclear what causes this western move. In inland Central Europe, the species is observed only in exceptional cases.
Existence and endangerment
There are no estimates of the size of the world population. According to the IUCN, the species is common at least in parts of its large range and is therefore considered to be harmless.
literature
- Lars Svensson , Peter J. Grant, Killian Mullarney, Dan Zetterström: The new cosmos bird guide. Kosmos, Stuttgart 1999, ISBN 3-440-07720-9 , p. 244 f.
- Einhard Bezzel: Compendium of the birds of Central Europe. Passeres - songbirds . Aula, Wiesbaden, 1993: pp. 69-71. ISBN 3-89104-530-1
- Urs N. Glutz von Blotzheim , Kurt M. Bauer: Handbook of the birds of Central Europe. Volume 10 / II: Passeriformes. Part 1: Motacillidae - Prunellidae. Aula, Wiesbaden 1985, ISBN 3-923527-00-4 , pp. 523-537.
Web links
- Anthus cervinus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2008. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2008. Accessed October 13 of 2008.
- Videos, photos and sound recordings about Anthus richardi in the Internet Bird Collection