Richard’s Pipit
Anthus richardi

>> GENERAL >>>>>

– small passerine, larger than House Sparrow, one of the ‘large pipits’
– rare but regular migrant in Northern and Western WP
– diurnal migrant
– usually migrates singly or (in Asia) in very small flocks

>> VISUAL ID >>>>>

BIF148_MPU_I1Q5854_140610_richpip_mng_choibalsan
Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi
BIF0148, 10/06/2014, Choibalsan, Mongolia, Mathias Putze

BIF149_MPU_I1Q6416_140610_richpip_mng_ikh_taschgai
Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi
BIF0149, 10/06/2014, Ikh Taschgai, Mongolia, Mathias Putze

BIF150_MPU_I1Q8023_140610_richpip_mng_choibalsan
Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi
BIF0150, 10/06/2014, Choibalsan, Mongolia, Mathias Putze

>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>

– typical pipit-like overslur
broadly modulated second, descending part
– dominant frequency band between 2-6kHz
– sound often compared to Eurasian sparrow species
– the powerful coarse quality also reminds slightly of Citrine Wagtail or some Western or Eastern Yellow Wagtail taxa
– most similar to Blyth’s Pipit, but sounds somewhat softer
– lacks Blyth’s Pipit’s narrow peak


Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi, calls in flight
BIF0153, 14/06/2023, Bumda Bayan, Mongolia, Patrick Franke

>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>

Blyth’s Pipit
Tawny Pipit

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