The Australasian pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae) is a fairly small passerine bird of open country in Australia, New Zealand and New Guinea. It belongs to the pipit genus Anthus in the family Motacillidae.
It was formerly lumped together with the Richard's, African, Mountain and Paddyfield pipits in a single species: Richard's pipit, Anthus novaeseelandiae. Some authors split the Australasian pipit further into two species: Australian pipit (Anthus australis) in Australia and New Guinea and New Zealand pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae) in New Zealand .
Range map from www.oiseaux.net - Ornithological Portal Oiseaux.net
www.oiseaux.net
is one of those MUST visit pages if you're in to bird watching. You can find just about everything there
Description
It is a slender bird, 16 to 19 cm long, and weighs about 40 grams. The plumage is pale brown above with dark streaks. The underparts are pale with streaks on the breast. There is a pale stripe over the eye and dark malar and moustachial stripes. The long tail has white outer-feathers and is often wagged up and down. The legs are long and pinkish-brown while the bill is slender and brownish.
It has a sparrow-like chirruping call and a drawn-out tswee call.
Listen to the New Zealand Pipit
Sound from www.xeno-canto.org
Remarks from the Recordist
Song from a bird responding to playback in alpine lava rock habitat near ski chairlifts.
Sang from atop rocks, never from skylarking flight (perhaps this species doesn't perform such flights?). Only bird detected in area.
Ecology
It is a bird of open habitats such as grassland, farmland, roadsides, dry river beds, sand dunes and open woodland. It forages on the ground for small invertebrates such as beetles, spiders and insect larvae. It will also eat seeds such as those of grasses.
The breeding season begins in August. The cup-shaped nest is placed at the base of vegetation or in the shelter of a stone. It is made of grass and built by the female. Two to five eggs are laid, three or four being most common. They are buff-white with brown blotching and are incubated for 14 to 15 days. The young birds are fed by both parents and are able to fly after 14 to 16 days.
The birds' numbers have declined in parts of New Zealand due to the improvement of pastures, use of pesticides and predation by introduced species.
Subspecies
A number of subspecies are recognised:
Australian pipit group
• A. n. australis, A. n. bilbali & A. n. rogersi - mainland Australia
• A. n. bistriatus - Tasmania
• A. n. exiguus - New Guinea
New Zealand pipit group
• A. n. novaeseelandiae - North, South and Stewart Islands (birds on the North Island are sometimes treated as a separate subspecies A. n. reischeki).
• A. n. aucklandicus - Auckland Islands & Campbell Islands
• A. n. chathamensis - Chatham Islands
• A. n. steindachneri - Antipodes Islands
Conservation status
Least concern
(IUCN 3.1)
IUCN Red List
of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2.
International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sighted: 31 October 2017 (Date of first photo that I could use)
Location: Brynderwyn
New Zealand Pipit - Anthus novaeseelandiae - Brynderwyn - 31 October 2017
New Zealand Pipit - Anthus novaeseelandiae - Brynderwyn - 31 October 2017
Going bird watching on New Zealand? I have been to a few places but so far New Zealand is outstanding regarding information on the internet. There are two organizations that are sticking
out so far when it comes to information about birds and wildlife/ outdoor living.Bird information, bird song and maps. Yes, there are excellent trekking maps online so you can plan, or go back after the trek to see where you have been, excellent. I have not been disappointed.
• New Zealand Birds Online nzbirdsonline.org.nz
• New Zealand's Department of Conservation www.doc.govt.nz Click on “Nature” or just hoover with the mouse over the “Nature”
Many other places I have been to have excellent maps on site, but trying to find them online
rendering nothing but disappointments. The New Zealand's Department of Conservation is the ONE STOP ONLY for everything regarding outdoor activities on New Zealand.New Zealand Birds Online, there is everything you ever wish to know about the birds on New Zealand. Nothing less than fantastic. Click HERE to down load Checklist of the birds of NZ from New Zealand Birds Online web page nzbirdsonline.org.nz
One of the best web pages I have ever seen when it comes to birding. All the information you can ever ask for and a ONE STOP for all your needs before going bird watching on New Zealand. Range maps, sounds, information and bird lists, everything you need.
PLEASE! If I have made any mistakes identifying any bird, PLEASE let me know on my guestbook
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