• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Taxonomic note

Taxonomic source(s)
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.
Sibley, C. G.; Monroe, B. L. 1990. Distribution and taxonomy of birds of the world. Yale University Press, New Haven, USA.

Red List criteria met

Critically Endangered	Endangered	Vulnerable
-	-	B1ab(i,ii,iii,v); C2a(ii)

Red List history

Year	Category	Criteria
2016	Vulnerable	B1ab(i,ii,iii,v);C2a(ii)
2012	Vulnerable	B1ab(i,ii,iii,v);C2a(ii)
2011	Vulnerable	B1a+b(i,ii,iii,v)
2008	Near Threatened	B1a+b(ii,iii)
2004	Near Threatened
2000	Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1994	Lower Risk/Least Concern
1988	Lower Risk/Least Concern

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

	Estimate	Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident)	53,700 km2	medium
Number of locations	11-100	-
Severely fragmented?	yes	-

	Estimate	Data quality	Derivation	Year of estimate
Population size	2500-9999 mature individuals	medium	estimated	2011
Population trend	decreasing	poor	suspected	-
Generation length	3.7 years	-	-	-
Number of subpopulations	2-100	-	-	-
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation	1-89%	-	-	-

Population justification: Recent surveys suggest that the species occurs at a density of c.0.1 birds/ha in suitable, protected habitat, and that the total area of montane grassland in its range may be only 400 km2 , not all of which will be suitable for the species (U. J. Vinod in litt. 2010). Assuming that the majority of birds recorded in the surveys were breeding adults, these data imply that an optimistic population estimate would be c.4,000 mature individuals. However, given the uncertainty around these numbers, the population is placed in the band 2,500-9,999 mature individuals. This equates to 3,750-14,999 individuals in total, rounded here to 3,500-15,000 individuals.

Trend justification: This species is suspected to be in decline owing to on-going habitat loss, degradation and disturbance.

Country/Territory	Presence	Origin	Resident	Breeding visitor	Non-breeding visitor	Passage migrant
India	extant	native		yes

Country/Territory	IBA Name
India	Anamudi Shola National Park
India	Avalanche (Nilgiri)
India	Berijam (Kodaikanal)
India	Bison Swamp (Nilgiri)
India	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
India	Eravikulam National Park
India	Grass Hills
India	Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park
India	INS - Shivaji and adjoining areas, Lonavla
India	Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
India	Kulahupuzha Reserved Forest
India	Kurinjimala Wildlife Sanctuary
India	Mankulam Forest Division
India	Megamalai Mountains
India	Mukurthi National Park (Nilgiris)
India	Muthukuzhi
India	Naduvattam
India	Nelliyampathy (Nemmara Division)
India	Pampadum Shola National Park
India	Peechi - Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary
India	Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
India	Poomparai and Kukkal
India	Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary
India	Shola around Kodaikanal
India	Silent Valley National Park
India	Srivilliputhur Wildlife Sanctuary
India	Thaishola
India	Vazhachal Forest Division

Habitat (level 1)	Habitat (level 2)	Importance	Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial	Plantations	suitable	resident
Grassland	Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude	major	resident
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks)		suitable	resident
Altitude	1000 - 2300 m	Occasional altitudinal limits

Threat (level 1)	Threat (level 2)	Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture	Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Majority (50-90%)		Negligible declines		Low Impact: 5
		Stresses Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching - Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Majority (50-90%)		Slow, Significant Declines		Medium Impact: 6
		Stresses Ecosystem degradation
Agriculture & aquaculture	Wood & pulp plantations - Small-holder plantations	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Majority (50-90%)		Negligible declines		Low Impact: 5
		Stresses Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Climate change & severe weather	Habitat shifting & alteration	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Future		Majority (50-90%)		Slow, Significant Declines		Low Impact: 4
		Stresses Ecosystem conversion
Human intrusions & disturbance	Recreational activities	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Majority (50-90%)		Slow, Significant Declines		Medium Impact: 6
		Stresses Species disturbance, Reduced reproductive success
Natural system modifications	Fire & fire suppression - Increase in fire frequency/intensity	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Majority (50-90%)		Rapid Declines		Medium Impact: 7
		Stresses Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Nilgiri Pipit Anthus nilghiriensis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/nilgiri-pipit-anthus-nilghiriensis 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.