Alpine Pipit Anthus gutturalis Scientific name definitions

17·5–18 cm. Large pipit with strong facial pattern . Nominate race has dark brown lores, contrasting creamy supercilium and lower eyelid (giving spectacled appearance), brown ear-coverts; forehead whitish, crown, head side and upperparts blackish-brown, buffy olive-brown feather edgings giving streaked appearance, rump plainer olive-brown to buffy; wing feathers dark brown, edged buffish olive-brown; tail dark brown, edged grey, T5 tipped white, T6 brownish-white to buffy; throat to upper breast white to pale buff, rest of underparts buffy or pale brown, blackish-brown stripe or patch on side of throat and lower neck; iris dark brown; bill black; legs dark horn or pinkish. Sexes alike. Juvenile has blackish-brown streaks below. Race rhododendri is slightly smaller than nominate, and has greener upperparts and darker underparts; wollastoni has somewhat brighter plumage, but black at side of throat reduced to broken streaks or absent.

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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.

Alpine grassland above the tree-line on the highest mountains, between 3200 m and 4500 m, occasionally down to 2500 m. Prefers short grass, often near cover of shrubs.

Resident; no evidence of descent to lower elevations in winter.

Mainly small insects and their larvae, and other arthropods; grass seeds, berries and green herbaceous matter also recorded. Forages on the ground, moving with a “waddling” gait. Sometimes up to ten individuals together. When alarmed, flies to a vantage point such as rock, bush or tree, up to 12 m away, at forest edge. Frequently holds the bill upwards at 45-degree angle.

Song  , often in flight low over ground, described as several high, thin, clear notes each repeated several times before a new note, running into a trill, or a lower coarser trill and various subdued musical calls and whistles. Call faint and high-pitched “tsip” or “tsee”, or “tsee tsee tsee”; also subdued musical notes and whistles.

Single nestlings found in latter part of wet season, in Apr, Sept and Oct. Nest a cup of fine grass, placed on steep bank. No other information.

Not globally threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Adelbert and Huon Ranges EBA and Central Papuan Mountains EBA. No information on current status. Described as common in late 1960s and 1970s; no reason to suppose that any changes in its habitat or population level have taken place since then.