Pampas pipit

{{speciesbox | name = Pampas pipit | image = Anthus chacoensis Pampas Pipit; Saavedra, Buenos Aires, Argentina.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2024 |title=Pampas Pipit ''Anthus chacoensis'' |volume=2024 |article-number=e.T22718606A263952943 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T22718606A263952943.en |access-date=8 March 2026}}</ref> | genus = Anthus | species = chacoensis | authority = Zimmer, 1952 | synonyms = | range_map = Anthus chacoensis map.svg }}

The '''Pampas pipit''' ('''''Anthus chacoensis''''') is a species of bird in the family Motacillidae, the wagtails and pipits. It is found in Argentina and Paraguay.<ref name=IOC15.1>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/bow/waxbills/ |title=Waxbills, parrotfinches, munias, whydahs, Olive Warbler, accentors, pipits |website=IOC World Bird List |version =v 15.1 | editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | editor3-last=Rasmussen | editor3-first=Pamela | editor3-link=Pamela Rasmussen |date=March 2025 |access-date=6 March 2026 }}</ref>

==Taxonomy and systematics==

The Pampas pipit was described by John T. Zimmer in 1952 as a subspecies of the yellowish pipit (''Anthus chii'').<ref name=Zimmer1952>{{cite journal | last=Zimmer |first=John T. | journal=Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington | title=A new subspecies of pipit from Argentina and Paraguay | volume=65 | pages=31–34 | publisher=Biological Society of Washington | date= 1952 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/34567135 |access-date=March 8, 2026 }}</ref> After examining additional specimens of ''chacoensis'' and ''chii'' Zimmer concluded a year later that ''chacoensis'' deserved recognition as a full species.<ref name=Zimmer1953>{{cite journal | last=Zimmer |first=John T. | journal=American Museum Novitates | title=Studies of Peruvian birds, No. 65. The jays (Corvidae) and pipits (Motacillidae) | volume=1649 | pages=1–27 | publisher=American Museum of Natural History | date= 1953 | url=https://digitallibrary.amnh.org/items/108fbd38-486b-48de-b829-63fce8519477 |access-date=March 8, 2026 }}</ref> The species' first English name was '''Chaco pipit''', and '''Campo pipit''' was proposed as an alternative. Because neither name accurately describes the species' range and primary habitat, the current "Pampas pipit" was adopted.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop407.htm |title=Proposal 407: Change the English name of ''Anthus chacoensis'' to Pampas Pipit |last=Roesler |first=Ignacio |date=2009 |website=South American Classification Committee |access-date=March 8, 2026 }} The proposal was adopted in March 2010 and other taxonomic systems followed the SACC. </ref>

The Pampas pipit is monotypic.<ref name=IOC15.1/>

==Description==

The Pampas pipit is a very small member of its genus; it is about {{convert|14|cm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a dark brown head with a pale area around the eye, a short dark "moustache", and a faint dark streak on the cheek. Their upperparts are dark brown with grayish feather edges that give a striped appearance. Their wings are blackish brown with pale buffy edges on the flight feathers. Their tail is mostly dark brown with mostly white outermost feathers. Their throat and underparts are white with dark spots on the breast and dark streaks on the flanks. They have a dark iris, a dark bill with a pinkish base to the mandible, and pinkish legs and feet.<ref name=Zimmer1952/><ref name=PAPI-BOW>Tyler, S. (2020). Pampas Pipit (''Anthus chacoensis''), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.chapip1.01 retrieved March 8, 2026</ref>

==Distribution and habitat==

The Pampas pipit is found from Concepción Department in east-central Paraguay south to south-central Buenos Aires Province in east-central Argentina. It nominally inhabits grasslands of the Pampas but is "now found almost entirely in agricultural fields!" (emphasis in original).<ref name=PAPI-BOW/>

==Behavior== ===Movement===

The Pampas pipit is a partial migrant. Much of the population that breeds in the southern part of its range migrates to the northern part for the non-breeding season. The species is found in Paraguay only as a non-breeding migrant.<ref name=PAPI-BOW/><ref name=SACCcountries>Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, D. F. Lane, L, N. Naka, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 27 February 2026. Species Lists of Birds for South American Countries and Territories. South American Classification Committee associated with the International Ornithologists' Union. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCCountryLists.htm retrieved February 28, 2026</ref>

===Feeding===

The Pampas pipit's diet has not been studied. It forages on the ground "in typical pipit fashion".<ref name=PAPI-BOW/>

===Breeding===

Male Pampas pipits make a flight display that can reach {{convert|80|m|ft|abbr=on}} above the ground and last more than an hour. Nothing else is known about the species' breeding biology.<ref name=PAPI-BOW/>

{{birdsong|url=https://xeno-canto.org/species/Anthus-chacoensis |species=the Pampas pipit}} ===Vocalization===

The Pampas pipit sings during the flight display. Its song is a "long protracted series of more than 50 syllables, e.g. ''clicliclicliclidlidli… dlewdlew… dleeddleed… leecleeclee… cliclicli''".<ref name=PAPI-BOW/>

==Status==

The IUCN originally in 1988 assessed the Pampas pipit as Threatened, then in 1994 as Near Threatened, and since 2000 as being of Least Concern. Its population size is not known but is believed to be stable. No immediate threats have been identified.<ref name=IUCN/> It is considered fairly common. "Research [is] needed on its ecology and breeding behaviour."<ref name=PAPI-BOW/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

Pampas pipit Category:Birds of Argentina Category:Birds of the Pampas Category:Birds of Paraguay Pampas pipit Pampas pipit Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot