Red-throated Pipit

Red-throated Pipit
This species is defined as a Review Species . Please submit your records of this species via our record submission page .

Scientific Name: Anthus cervinus

Malay Name: Apit-apit Rengkung Merah

Chinese Name: 红喉鹨

Range: Found in northern Scandinavia to NE Siberia and winters to Africa, Middle East, Indian subcontinent, southern China, Japan and Southeast Asia

Taxonomy: Monotypic.

Size: 15-16.5 cm

Identification: Adult is characterised by heavily streaked upperparts with prominent streaked back, rump and uppertail-coverts, prominent blackish streaks/spotting on breasts and flanks and pinkish-red head-sides, throat and upper breast. Reddish coloration on head tend to be less extensive on autumn/winter birds and females and completely lacking in juveniles.

Similar looking species: Olive-backed Pipit

Habitat: Grasslands and open habitats, often near water.

Behaviour/Ecology: Forages by walking along ground, pecking at a variety of insects and occasional seeds.

Local Status: Rare migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2019)

Featured reports: Dec 2023, Dec 2024

Past records in our database:

Showing only accepted records. Note that records currently under review are also not displayed, and the list may not be a full list of records of this species in Singapore. For more details, check the database here.

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus
Average number of individuals by week based on Singapore Bird Database data, Jul 2014 to Jun 2024 (all records)
Peak week Mar 19-Mar 25
Early date 30 Oct 2018
Late date 12 Apr 1992
Somewhat unlike most other migrants, the largest numbers of this species are usually observed in the spring.
Red-throated Pipit at Ulu Sembawang. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Red-throated Pipit at Ulu Sembawang. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Red-throated Pipit at Punggol Barat. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Red-throated Pipit at Punggol Barat. Photo credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Red-throated Pipit at Punggol Barat. Photo credit: Myron Tay
Red-throated Pipit at Punggol Barat. Photo credit: Myron Tay
Red-throated Pipit at Turut Track. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Red-throated Pipit at Ulu Sembawang. Photo credit: Francis Yap

External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Red-throated Pipit)

References:

BirdLife International. (2019). Anthus cervinus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T22718560A137415441.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Alström, P. & Mild, K. (2004). Pipits and Wagtails of Europe, Asia and North America. Christopher Helm.

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

Wells, D. R. (1999). The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula (Vol. 1). Academic Press, London.

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Red-throated Pipit. Retrieved on May 19, 2025 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/red-throated-pipit.

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