Anthus similis

The Long-billed Pipit is classified as Vulnerable (VU) because of the continued decline in its population size, which is estimated to exceed 10% over 3 generations (11 years). In the previous edition of the red book (2002), it was classified as Endangered (EN). The apparent improvement in its status does not reflect a true improvement, but a slowing down of population and range reduction, as well as differences in the quality of information and assessment methods between the editions.

Habitats	Rocky Terrain, Mediterranean Batha, Semi-desert Batha, Mountainous Terrain
Presence In Israel	Resident
Breeding In Israel	Breeder
Migration Types	Resident
Zoographical Zones	Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian
Landscape Types	Mountainous, Rugged Terrain
Vegetation Types	Mediterranean Garrigue, Steppe, Herbaceous
Vegetation Densities	Low
Nest Locations	Ground
Diet Types	Invertebrate
Foraging Grounds	Ground
Body Sizes	Small (up to 500g)
Threat Factors	Wildfires, Tree planting, Habitat loss and fragmentation

The Long-billed Pipit is resident in mountainous and hilly areas in Israel’s Mediterranean and Steppe regions, at altitudes of 250-700 meters. In recent decades has disappeared from Mt. Carmel, large areas in Western Judea and Samaria and most of the Western Galilee.

The Long-billed Pipit occupies shrubland (Batha and Garrigue) on rocky slopes in the Mediterranean region and the desert transition area.

Direct disturbance – mainly by military activity, shepherds and hikers.
Afforestation that reduce and fragment shrublands. Long-billed Pipits do not nest in planted areas or in adjacent areas, and they require shrubland patches extending at least over 50 hectares (Shochat 2000).
Wildfires in shrublands – mainly due to military exercises.
Closing of native woodland – reduced grazing in northern Israel leads to closing of woodland and the resulting habitats are not suitable for the pipits.

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

Preserving shrubland patches greater than 50 hectares and avoiding habitat fragmentation caused by development and afforestation.

• מירוז, א. 2008. סיכום סקר ציפורים בשמורת סנסן אביב 2008. דו"ח רשות הטבע והגנים ומרכז הצפרות של החברה להגנת הטבע.
• מירוז, א. 2013. סיכום סקר ציפורים במזרח לכיש, אביב 2013. דו"ח רשות הטבע והגנים.
• מירוז, א. ושוחט, א. 2014. סיכום סקר ציפורים סביב היישוב נטע במזרח לכיש – 2014. דו"ח רשות הטבע והגנים.
• מירוז, א., 2007 . סיכום סקר ציפורים בגבעות גומר. דו"ח עבור רשות הטבע והגנים.
• פז, ע. 1986. עופות. מתוך אלון, ע. (עורך), החי והצומח של ארץ ישראל. כרך 6. הוצאת משרד הביטחון, ישראל.
• צורים ע., מירוז, א., 2006 . סיכום סקר ציפורים באזור נחל אדוריים. דו"ח עבור רשות הטבע והגנים.
• שוחט, א. 2000. השפעת קיטוע בתות הספר על ידי חורש נטוע על חברת העופות בצפון הנגב. חיבור לקבלת תואר דוקטור. אוניברסיטת בן-גוריון.

• Shirihai, H., 1996. The Birds of Israel. Academic Press, London.
• Shochat, E., Abramski, Z., Pinshow, B., 2001. Breeding bird species diversity in the Negev: Effects of Scrub Fragmentation by planted forests. Journal of Applied Ecology, 38, 1135-1147.
• Symes, A. 2013. Species generation lengths. Unpublished, BirdLife International.
• Species page at Birdlife International