New Zealand pipit
| New Zealand pipit | |
|---|---|
| |
| On Kapiti Island | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Motacillidae |
| Genus: | Anthus |
| Species: | A. novaeseelandiae
|
| Binomial name | |
| Anthus novaeseelandiae (Gmelin, JF, 1789)
| |
The New Zealand pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae) is a fairly small passerine bird of open country in New Zealand and outlying islands. 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. Many authors split the Australasian pipit further into two species: Australian pipit (Anthus australis) in Australia[2] and New Guinea and New Zealand pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae), also called pīhoihoi, in New Zealand.
Taxonomy
The New Zealand pipit was
Four subspecies are recognised:[7]
- A. n. novaeseelandiae (Gmelin, JF, 1789) – North, South and Stewart Island and satellites (New Zealand)
- A. n. chathamensis Lorenz von Liburnau, L, 1902 – Chatham Islands (east of South Island, New Zealand)
- A. n. aucklandicus Gray, GR, 1862 – Auckland and Campbell Islands (south of South Island, New Zealand)
- A. n. steindachneri Reischek, 1889 – Antipodes Islands (southeast of Stewart Island, New Zealand)
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.
Ecology
It is a bird of open
The birds' numbers have declined in parts of New Zealand due to the improvement of pastures, use of pesticides and predation by introduced species.
Gallery
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New Zealand pipit -
A New Zealand pipit A. n. aucklandicus and megaherbs on Campbell Island -
Anthus novaeseelandiae egg in the collection of Auckland Museum
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References
- ^ BirdLife International (2019). "Anthus novaeseelandiae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22718480A131983972. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ISBN 9780643097544.
- ^ Gmelin, Johann Friedrich (1789). Systema naturae per regna tria naturae : secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. 1, Part 2 (13th ed.). Lipsiae [Leipzig]: Georg. Emanuel. Beer. p. 799.
- ^ Latham, John (1783). A General Synopsis of Birds. Vol. 2, Part 2. London: Printed for Leigh and Sotheby. p. 384, Plate 51.
- ^ Medway, David G. (1976). "Extant types of New Zealand birds from Cook's voyages. Part 1: Historical and type paintings" (PDF). Notornis. 23 (1): 45-60 [57, "New Zealand Pipit"].
- doi:10.5962/p.92313.
- ^ Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (July 2023). "Waxbills, parrotfinches, munias, whydahs, Olive Warbler, accentors, pipits". IOC World Bird List Version 13.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- Heather, Barrie D. & Robertson, Hugh (1996) The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand
Further reading
- Higgins, P.J.; Peter, J.M.; Cowling, S.J., eds. (2006). "Anthus novaeseelandiae Australasian pipit" (PDF). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds. Vol. 7, Boatbill to starlings, Part 7 B, Dunnock to starling. Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press. pp. 1359–1389. ISBN 978-0-19-553996-7.
