Nilgiri Pipit Anthus nilghiriensis Scientific name definitions

17–17·5 cm. Richly coloured pipit with heavy streaking. Has broad deep buff to whitish supercilium , darker buff ear-coverts, sometimes some dark spots in malar region; crown and upperparts tawny-olive or warm grey-brown with greenish-yellow tinge, crown to mantle and scapulars heavily streaked blackish-brown, back to uppertail-coverts streaked grey-brown; remiges and wing-coverts dark brown, edges and tips dull dark buff to greenish-yellow (forming two wingbars); tail dark brown, outer two feather pairs with prominent whitish wedges; throat, breast and flanks deep buff, belly paler buff, blackish-brown streaks on breast and flanks; iris dark brown; bill blackish, lower mandible with greyish-pink base; legs pale pink or yellowish-pink. Distinguished from A. rufulus by shorter tail, more boldly streaked crown and mantle, more distinct buffish supercilium, richer buff underparts with bolder markings, no malar stripe. Sexes alike. Juvenile is generally paler than adult, with more distinct streaking.

Western Ghats in S Karnataka, Kerala and W Tamil Nadu, in extreme SW India.

Upland grassland, open grassy and rocky areas on tops of hills; favours short grass. Also in coffee plantations. Occurs at 1500–2300 m; down to 1000 m in Panmudi Hills. In Nilgiri Hills, replaces A. rufulus above 1800 m (although some overlap).

Resident.

Small invertebrates . Forages on ground, in short grass; when disturbed, flies to nearest bush or tree.

Song, usually from ground, feeble, initially quiet and hesitant, accelerating into trill, “tsip tsip tsip-tsip-sip-sip-sipsipsipsipsip” and ending abruptly. Call a weak “see see”, unlike that of A. rufulus.

Season end Mar/early Apr to Jul. Nest a shallow cup of coarse grass and roots, lined with finer grass, sometimes hair and stems, built among roots or in tuft of grass or in depression at base of bush on open hillside or bank. Clutch 2–4 eggs; no further information.

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near-threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Western Ghats EBA. Locally fairly common to common in Nilgiri Hills, Palani Hills and High Range, and in Panmudi Hills. Total range, however, is small, and its grassland habitats are gradually being converted to plantations of tea, gum (Eucalyptus) and wattle (Acacia dealbata). Further deterioration and loss of habitat could place this species at risk.