NT
Yellow-tufted Pipit Anthus crenatus



Taxonomy

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.

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

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2021 Near Threatened C1
2018 Near Threatened C1
2017 Near Threatened C1
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 not a migrant Forest dependency does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type Average mass 31 g
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 630,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 3300-8900 mature individuals poor estimated 2015
Population trend decreasing - suspected 2014-2023
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 10-19% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 10-19% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 10-19% - - -
Generation length 2.4 years - - -

Population justification: The global population size was estimated by Taylor et al. (2015) as 3,300-8,900 mature individuals. The species is common in Lethoso, and has been observed at the following densities on Clarens formation sandstone cliffs: 57 breeding pairs per 107 km transect (Kopij 2013a), 17 breeding pairs in the Roma Valley (Kopij 2001), 4 pairs per 3 km transect in Morija (Kopij 2006), and 22 breeding pairs per 24 km transect around the Qeme and Masite Plateaus (Kopij 2010). 5 breeding pairs per 24 km transect were found in the lowland river valleys, while 4 breeding pairs per 25.5 km transects in the foothill river valleys (Kopij 2012). 28 breeding pairs per 110 km transect were found at the Lower Senque river drainages, while 72 pairs per 104 km transect were found at the Upper Senque drainages (Kopij 2013a, b). In afro-montane grasslands c.2,000-2,300 m above sea level, 13 pairs per 61.2 km transect were found (Kopij 2015b), while 13 pairs per 54km and 7 pairs per 120km were found in the highlands and foothills respectively (Kopij 2015a). No birds were recorded in the lowlands (Kopij 2015a) or in Alti-mountain grassland at 2,500-3,500m above sea level (Kopij 2015b), however 10 breeding pairs per 90km transect were found on farmlands (Kopij 2018).

Trend justification: The species may have undergone a population size reduction over the past 10 years based on a decline of c.34% in Area of Occupancy (based on comparisons of South African Bird Atlas Project data) and c.11% in Extent of Occurrence, although this may be in part influenced by incomplete sampling in part of its range (Taylor et al. 2015). Lee et al. (2017) instead suggest a range decline of 13% (with a core range decline of 9% since 1992). Given the uncertainty over the rate of decline, the species is cautiously suspected to be undergoing an ongoing decline in the range 10-19%, though further evidence could suggest that the rate of decline is greater than this.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Eswatini extant native yes
Lesotho extant native yes
South Africa extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Grassland Subarctic suitable resident
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) major resident
Shrubland Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable resident
Altitude 1000 - 3000 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Wood & pulp plantations - Small-holder plantations Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem conversion
Climate change & severe weather Habitat shifting & alteration Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Whole (>90%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Indirect ecosystem effects, Ecosystem degradation

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Yellow-tufted Pipit Anthus crenatus. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/yellow-tufted-pipit-anthus-crenatus on 22/11/2024.
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 22/11/2024.