Anthus

[nevskee]

I know this is not exactly help with ID. I was wondering if anybody could explain the taxonomy / status of Anthus novaeseelandiae / rufulus / richardi / australis. I live in Indonesia and most guides have the species as A. novaeseelandiae. I note that the British list uses richardi now. Confused. Very. Help needed.
Nev

[cuckooroller]

Nev,
Well, join the club of the confused! The intrepretations of the various splits are varied. The only way I can make any sense of it is to stick to the taxonomic treatment given by one world list (in my case, the Howard & Moore, 3rd Ed.). However, one must also be aware of the intrepretations given by other reputable world lists since different people follow different lists. Unfortunately, there is no one accepted treatment for these birds and they are still being investigated.

[Xenospiza]

Hi Nev,

What was (and by some still is) called "A. novaeseelandiae" has been split into many different pipits now, starting with the ones you can expect:

- richardi (Richard's Pipit) (Northern Asia, winters south to Indonesia)
- rufulus (Paddyfield Pipit) (Southern Asia, the one breeding in Indonesia)
I hope your guides treat the different races, oherwise you'll have to do some studying!
Elsewhere, there are:
- novaeseelandiae (New Zealand Pipit) (may one day be split into New Zealand, Auckland, Chatham and Antipode Island Pipits)
- australis (Australian Pipit, still often treated as novaeseelandiae australis)
- cinnamomeus (African Pipit, Grassveld Pipit)
- camaroonensis (Cameroon Pipit, often treated as ssp of cinnamomeus)

But I guess there's still work to be done… (as Steve points out!)

[cuckooroller]

Nev,

This is what is supposed to be in Indonesia according to the Howard & Moore, 3°Ed.

Anthus richardi - RICHARD’S PIPIT

A.r.sinensis - C and E China >>>* mainland SE Asia and Sumatra
A.r.malayensis – S India, Sri Lanka, Malay Pen., Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan
A.r.albidus – Lesser Sundas, S Sulawesi
A.r.medius – Savu, Timor Is.

Anthus hodgsoni - OLIVE-BACKED PIPIT

A.h.yunnanensis - N European Russia and N Siberia south to N Mongolia, N Manchuria and Hokkaido >>> S and SE Asia (including Kalimantan).

Anthus gustavi - PECHORA PIPIT

A.g.gustavi - NE European Russia and N Asia to Chukotka and Kamtchatka >>> E and SE Asia to Philippines and Indonesia

Anthus cervinus - RED-THROATED PIPIT

A.c.cervinus - NE Siberia from E Taymyr to N Kuril and Commander Is. and NW Alaska >>> S and SE Asia (including Indonesia).

Anthus gutturalis - ALPINE PIPIT

A.g.wollastoni - WC New Guinea (i.e. Irian Jaya)

* = migrates and winters there.