Anthus campestris

The Tawny Pipit is classified as critically endangered (CR) because of the small breeding population that has decreased greatly in the past two decades, and is now estimated at less than 50 mature individuals. In the previous edition of the Red Book (2002), it was classified as endangered (EN). The change in its status reflects the deterioration in population size and its disappearance from areas in which the species bred in the past.

Habitats	Alpine Scrubland, Mountainous Terrain
Presence In Israel	Migrant, Summer
Breeding In Israel	Breeder
Migration Types	Long Range
Zoographical Zones	Alpine, Mediterranean
Landscape Types	Mountainous
Vegetation Types	Steppe, Herbaceous
Vegetation Densities	Low
Nest Locations	Ground
Diet Types	Invertebrate
Foraging Grounds	Ground
Body Sizes	Small (up to 500g)
Threat Factors	Tree planting, Habitat loss and fragmentation

The Tawny Pipit is relatively large and pale with slender elongated body and tail that are reminiscent of a wagtail. Its general color is sandy brown, with long legs and a prominent light eyebrow above a dark moustache. Flight call is short, harsh, and reminiscent of the House Sparrow. Song is disyllabic and metallic, usually sounded in flight.

The Tawny Pipit is an extremely rare summer breeder in Israel, restricted almost exclusively to Mt. Hermon, and a common passage migrant. About 10 pairs nest on the Hermon slopes (Israeli & Perlman 2013). In the past, the Tawny Pipit was a relatively common breeder in northern and central Israel (Meinertzhagen 1920). Until the 1980s, it nested in small numbers along the mountains of Judea, Samaria and the Galilee, such as Mt. Ba’al Hatsor, the Jerusalem Hills, the Etzion Block, the Hebron Mountains and Mt. Kna’an (Paz 1986, Shirihai 1996). It has disappeared from most of these areas as a breeder because of habitat destruction related to expansion of settlements, agriculture, afforestation and decreased grazing in the Galilee (leading to thickening of the vegetation). During the last two decades, only a few observations outside upper Mt. Hermon were recorded, indicating sporadic nesting on the southern slopes of the Judean Mountains. On Mt. Hermon its range has become reduced, and while in the 1980s it was recorded breeding at altitudes of 1,300 meters and higher, in recent years only few individuals have been observed and at higher altitudes, above 1,900 meters (Israeli & Perlman 2013).

The Tawny Pipit nests in open rocky mountain peaks in the Steppe and Mediterranean regions at altitudes of 600 m and more.

The Tawny Pipit is affected mainly by habitat destruction and modification due to settlement, roadbuilding, afforestation and decreased grazing in Judea and Samaria, as well as by infrastructure development on the Mt. Hermon heights.

No specific conservation measures have been taken for this species to date.

The most significant Tawny Pipit population breeds on the Mt. Hermon summit. Any habitat development or modification in its breeding areas should be avoided. In addition, a survey of historical breeding sites on the Judean and Samarian mountains should be conducted to assess whether there are any relictual populations in these areas and if so, how they can be protected.

• ישראלי, נ. ופרלמן, י. 2013. סיכום סקר עופות מקננים בחרמון. דו"ח מרכז הצפרות של החברה להגנת הטבע.
• פז, ע. 1986. עופות. מתוך אלון, ע. (עורך), החי והצומח של ארץ ישראל. כרך 6. הוצאת משרד הביטחון, ישראל.

• Shirihai, H., 1996. The Birds of Israel. Academic Press, London.
• Symes, A. 2013. Species generation lengths. Unpublished, BirdLife International.
• Species page at Birdlife International