Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species is likely to have a small population. There is some tentative evidence to suggest that the species is declining, but further work is required to better understand the population size, structure and trend of this species. It is therefore listed as Near Threatened, but further work could show that it warrants a higher category.
Population justification
Taylor et al. (2015) suggest that the global population of this species numbers less than 10,000 mature individuals, placed here in the range 2,500-9,999 mature individuals. Lesotho is reportedly a stronghold for this species, and it has been recorded in the highlands at densities of 50 singing males per 54 km transect (Kopij 2015a), 33 singing males per 61.2 km transect in Afro-montane grassland, and 54 singing males per 44.7km transect in Alti-mountain grassland (Kopij 2015a, 2015b). This species was not recorded in the foothills (Kopij 2015a) but it has been recorded in the Sehlabathebe National Park at densities of 30 singing males per 32 km transect (Kopij 2002).
Based on the species’s distribution, it is assumed that it functions as one subpopulation, and therefore that 100% of mature individuals are within the same subpopulation.
Trend justification
It is suspected that the species is declining overall due to habitat shifting caused by climate change, as temperatures in South Africa have been rising (van Wilgen et al. 2016). Taylor et al. (2015) suggest that the species's range may have declined by up to 40% between SABAP1 and SABAP2 (c.1991-c.2015). This would be equivalent to a decline of 19% over 10 years. However, Lee et al. (2017) suggest the range may have declined by 9% between SABAP1 and SABAP2. Therefore, the species is tentatively suspected to have declined in the range of 1-19% over 10 years, and based on the threat of habitat shifting from climate change, these rates are suspected to continue into the future.
The distribution of Anthus hoeschi throughout sub-Saharan Africa is poorly known, but it is believed to breed mainly in Lesotho as well as in South Africa (Hockey et al. 2005, Taylor et al. 2015). In the non-breeding season it may move north into Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia (Hockey et al. 2005).
This species breeds in high altitude grasslands, scrubland and ericoid heathlands above 2,000 m, (see Hockey et al. 2005, Taylor et al. 2015), up to 3,500 m (G. Kopij in litt. 2020). It prefers flat areas of short grass, with recently burnt vegetation, avoiding steeper rocky areas (Taylor et al. 2015). Within its range, it is often a dominant species in avian assemblages in the Afro-mountain and Afro-alpine grasslands (Kopij 2002, 2010, 2014, 2015a, 2015b). It appears to benefit from human activities such as pastoral agriculture (G Kopij, in litt. 2020). It is an intra-Africa migrant species, though its non-breeding range is not well known.
Climate change has been proposed as a future major threat to the species (see Taylor et al. 2015), but it is possible that habitat shifting with climate change may already be in part driving the potential declines in this species (temperatures in South Africa have been reported to be rising [van Wilgen et al. 2016]); though this will require further work to more fully investigate this.
Conservation and Research Actions Underway
No targeted conservation actions are known.
Conservation and Research Actions Proposed
Conduct research into the species to get better estimates of population size and trends, and gain a better understanding of population structure. Research the ecology of the species. Investigate whether there are any other threats that could be impacting the species. Protect key sites for the species.
Text account compilers
Clark, J.
Contributors
Butchart, S., Ekstrom, J., Kopij, G. & Westrip, J.R.S.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Mountain Pipit Anthus hoeschi. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/mountain-pipit-anthus-hoeschi on 23/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/12/2024.