LC
Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
AERC TAC. 2003. AERC TAC Checklist of bird taxa occurring in Western Palearctic region, 15th Draft. Available at: #http://www.aerc.eu/DOCS/Bird_taxa_of _the_WP15.xls#.
Cramp, S. and Simmons, K.E.L. (eds). 1977-1994. Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The birds of the western Palearctic. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A., Fishpool, L.D.C., Boesman, P. and Kirwan, G.M. 2016. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2018 Least Concern
2016 Least Concern
2012 Least Concern
2009 Least Concern
2008 Least Concern
2004 Least Concern
2000 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1994 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1988 Lower Risk/Least Concern
Species attributes

Migratory status full migrant Forest dependency does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 17,500,000 km2 medium
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) 31,400,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 10000000-29999999 mature individuals poor estimated 2012
Population trend stable - suspected -
Generation length 3.7 years - - -

Population justification: In Europe, the breeding population is estimated to number 1,620,000-3,160,000 pairs, which equates to 3,230,000-6,320,000 mature individuals (BirdLife International 2015).  Europe forms c.25% of the global range, so a very preliminary estimate of the global population size is 12,920,000-25,280,000 mature individuals, although further validation of this estimate is needed.

Trend justification: The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.  The European population is estimated to be stable (BirdLife International 2015).


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Afghanistan extant native yes
Albania extant native yes
Algeria extant native
Andorra extant native yes
Armenia extant native yes
Austria extant native yes
Azerbaijan extant native yes
Bahrain extant native yes yes
Belarus extant vagrant
Belgium extant native yes
Bosnia and Herzegovina extant native yes
Bulgaria extant native yes
China (mainland) extant native
Croatia extant native yes
Cyprus extant native yes
Czechia extant native yes
Denmark extant native yes
Egypt extant native
Estonia extant native yes
Faroe Islands (to Denmark) extant native yes
Finland extant native yes yes
France extant native yes yes
Georgia extant native yes
Germany extant native yes yes
Gibraltar (to UK) extant vagrant
Greece extant native yes yes
Hungary extant native yes
India extant native
Iran, Islamic Republic of extant native yes
Iraq extant native yes
Ireland extant native yes
Israel extant native
Italy extant native yes yes
Jordan extant native yes
Kazakhstan extant native yes
Kuwait extant native yes yes
Kyrgyzstan extant native yes
Latvia extant vagrant
Lebanon extant native yes yes
Libya extant native
Liechtenstein extant native yes
Luxembourg extant native yes
Malta extant native yes
Mongolia extant native yes
Montenegro extant native yes
Morocco extant native
Nepal extant native yes yes
Netherlands extant native yes
North Macedonia extant native yes
Norway extant native yes
Oman extant native yes
Pakistan extant native
Poland extant native yes
Portugal extant native yes
Qatar extant native yes
Romania extant native yes
Russia extant native yes
Russia (Asian) extant native yes
Russia (Central Asian) extant native yes
Russia (European) extant native yes
Saudi Arabia extant native yes
Serbia extant native yes
Slovakia extant native yes
Slovenia extant native yes
South Korea extant native
Spain extant native yes
Sweden extant native yes
Switzerland extant native yes
Syria extant native yes yes
Taiwan, China extant native
Tajikistan extant native yes
Tunisia extant native
Türkiye extant native yes
Turkmenistan extant native yes
Ukraine extant native yes
United Arab Emirates extant native yes yes
United Kingdom extant native yes
Uzbekistan extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Iran, Islamic Republic of Arasbaran Protected Area
Russia (Central Asian) Kuznetsky Alatau Zapovednik
Kazakhstan Big Almaty Gorge
Kazakhstan Aksu-Dzhabagly State Nature Reserve
Uzbekistan Bashkyzylsay Unit of the Chatkal Mountains Biosphere Reserve
Kazakhstan Assy Plateau
Tajikistan Bulunkul and Yashilkul lakes and mountains
Tajikistan Dzhavshangoz
Tajikistan Kondara Gorge
Tajikistan Iskanderkul lake and mountains
Tajikistan Drumkul Lake
Kazakhstan Almaty State Nature Reserve
Tajikistan Aktash massif
Tajikistan Kulikalon Lakes
Tajikistan Ishkashim
Tajikistan Dashtidjum
Tajikistan Kattasay and Daganasay Reservoirs
Uzbekistan Central section of the Kurama Mountain Range
Uzbekistan Tereklisay section of the Chatkal Mountains Biosphere Reserve
Uzbekistan Gissar State Nature Reserve
Russia (Central Asian) Kurkure mountain
Russia (Central Asian) Dzhulukul' depression
Kyrgyzstan Eastern Alai
Kyrgyzstan Gorge Tash-Rabat
Kyrgyzstan Lake Chatyr-Kul
Kyrgyzstan Western Alai, Kok-Suu river
Russia (Asian) Artysh ridge
Russia (Asian) Northern slope of Khamar-Daban mountains
Russia (Asian) Tunkin valley

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Artificial/Aquatic - Irrigated Land (includes irrigation channels) suitable non-breeding
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Artificial/Aquatic - Wastewater Treatment Areas suitable non-breeding
Grassland Temperate major breeding
Marine Coastal/Supratidal Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes suitable non-breeding
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) major breeding
Wetlands (inland) Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) suitable non-breeding
Altitude 615 - 3200 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Anthus spinoletta. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/water-pipit-anthus-spinoletta on 19/03/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org on 19/03/2024.