Pipits and Wagtails (Motacillidae)
Buff-bellied Pipit (Anthus rubescens) - HBW 9, p. 767
French: Pipit d’Amérique
German: Pazifikpieper
Spanish: Bisbita Norteamericano
Other common names: American (Water/Rock) Pipit; Siberian (Water) Pipit (japonicus)
Taxonomy: Alauda Rubescens Tunstall, 1771, Pennsylvania, USA.
Possibly forms a clade with A. pratensis, A. roseatus, A. cervinus, A. spinoletta and A. petrosus. May form a superspecies, and until recently treated as conspecific, with last two of those. Recent DNA studies, as well as plumage differences, suggest that races may represent more than one species. On the other hand, pacificus is doubtfully distinct from nominate in terms of morphology, and merged with latter by some authors. Geographical border between nominate race and japonicus uncertain, and population breeding in extreme NE Siberia possibly.. View all taxonomy...
Taxonomy: Alauda Rubescens Tunstall, 1771, Pennsylvania, USA.
Possibly forms a clade with A. pratensis, A. roseatus, A. cervinus, A. spinoletta and A. petrosus. May form a superspecies, and until recently treated as conspecific, with last two of those. Recent DNA studies, as well as plumage differences, suggest that races may represent more than one species. On the other hand, pacificus is doubtfully distinct from nominate in terms of morphology, and merged with latter by some authors. Geographical border between nominate race and japonicus uncertain, and population breeding in extreme NE Siberia possibly belongs with former; further study needed. Proposed race geophilus (from Aleutians) synonymized with nominate; haermsi, described on basis of specimen from non-breeding area in C Asia (E Uzbekistan), considered better treated as synonym of japonicus. Four subspecies recognized.
Possibly forms a clade with A. pratensis, A. roseatus, A. cervinus, A. spinoletta and A. petrosus. May form a superspecies, and until recently treated as conspecific, with last two of those. Recent DNA studies, as well as plumage differences, suggest that races may represent more than one species. On the other hand, pacificus is doubtfully distinct from nominate in terms of morphology, and merged with latter by some authors. Geographical border between nominate race and japonicus uncertain, and population breeding in extreme NE Siberia possibly belongs with former; further study needed. Proposed race geophilus (from Aleutians) synonymized with nominate; haermsi, described on basis of specimen from non-breeding area in C Asia (E Uzbekistan), considered better treated as synonym of japonicus. Four subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- japonicus Temminck & Schlegel, 1847 - breeds N, C & E Russia in SE Taymyr, W Siberian Plateau, and from E of R Lena, Yakutsk region and L Baikal E to Chukotsk Peninsula, Commander Is, Sakhalin and Kuril Is; winters in S Asia.
- pacificus Todd, 1935 - breeds W North America (Alaska, and Coast Range S to Oregon); winters S to W Mexico.
- alticola Todd, 1935 - breeds C & S Rocky Mts (S from S British Columbia), also locally in mountains W to California (SW USA); winters S to Mexico.
- rubescens (Tunstall, 1771) - breeds N & E Canada, W Greenland and extreme NE USA; winters S to Central America.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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A winter-plumaged adult foraging on a beach at low tide Locality Ventura County, California, USA (United States) (ssp rubescens)
Don DesJardin 31 December 2007 5 years ago 34 sec 4.6 -
A winter plumaged adult foraging for small insects around the edge of a fresh water pond that is drying up. Locality Ventura, Ventura County, California, USA (United States) (ssp rubescens [American Pipit])
Don DesJardin 20 November 2008 4 years ago 38 sec 4.5 -
An adult bird scolding from a treetop and a fledgling hiding on the ground Locality Nueltin Lake, Nunavut, Canada (ssp rubescens)
Robert Schaefer 11 July 2006 5 years ago 29 sec 4.5 -
An adult foraging in a field Locality California, USA (United States) (ssp rubescens)
Don DesJardin 31 May 2004 6 years ago 14 sec 4 -
A winter plumaged adult foraging for flies along the edge of a fresh water lagoon. Locality Ventura, Ventura County, California, USA (United States) (ssp rubescens [American Pipit])
Don DesJardin 8 November 2008 4 years ago 39 sec 4 -
A bird foraging on the ground. Locality Inbanuma Lake, Chiba Prefecture, Honshu, Japan (ssp japonicus)
Josep del Hoyo 23 January 2010 2 years ago 28 sec 3.8 -
An adult walking and feeding on grass Locality California, USA (United States) (ssp rubescens)
Don DesJardin 31 May 2004 6 years ago 13 sec 3.8 -
Several birds perched and preening on a electric wire among Oriental Greenfinches. Locality Miike Crater Lake, Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan (ssp japonicus)
Josep del Hoyo 28 January 2010 2 years ago 23 sec 3.7 -
Bird looking for food along shore and calling Locality Unalaska Island, Aleutian Islands, Alaska, USA (United States) (ssp pacificus)
Marc de Bont 28 July 2008 2 years ago 26 sec 3.6 -
A bird foraging on the ground. Locality Hachijojima, Izu Islands, Japan (ssp japonicus)
Josep del Hoyo 24 January 2010 2 years ago 20 sec 3.6 -
A bird foraging on the ground and eating grains. Locality Arasaki Crane Reserve, Izumi, Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan (ssp japonicus)
Josep del Hoyo 31 January 2010 2 years ago 38 sec 3.5 -
A bird foraging on the water. Locality Arasaki Crane Reserve, Izumi, Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan (ssp japonicus)
Josep del Hoyo 31 January 2010 2 years ago 34 sec 3.3 -
A bird foraging on the ground and flying away. Locality Miike Crater Lake, Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan (ssp japonicus)
Josep del Hoyo 28 January 2010 2 years ago 21 sec 3.3 -
A bird walking and foraging on the ground. Locality Inbanuma Lake, Chiba Prefecture, Honshu, Japan (ssp japonicus)
Josep del Hoyo 23 January 2010 2 years ago 28 sec 3.3 -
An individual walking and foraging on the ground Locality Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, Yolo County, California, USA (United States) (ssp rubescens)
Michael Grunow 15 January 2005 5 years ago 8 sec 3.2
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