Anthus rufulus

Ammavaripeta Cheruvu, Warangal & Bhigwan Bird Sanctuary

Renowned for its extensive natural resources, breathtaking scenery, and rich cultural legacy Telangana is the eleventh largest state in India situated on the south-central stretch of the Indian peninsula on the high Deccan Plateau. It is the twelfth-most populated state in India with a geographical area of 112,077 km² of which 21,214 km² is forest cover. The dry deciduous forests ecoregion of the central Deccan Plateau covers much of the state, including Hyderabad. The characteristic vegetation is woodlands of Hardwickia binata and Albizia amara. Over 80% of the original forest cover has been cleared for agriculture, timber harvesting, or cattle grazing, but large blocks of forest can be found in the Nagarjuna Sagar - Srisailam Tiger Reserve and elsewhere. The more humid Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests cover the Eastern Ghats in the eastern part of the state. The Central Deccan forests have an upper canopy at 15–25 meters, and an understory at 10–15 meters, with little undergrowth.

The dry sub-humid zone or Dichanthium-cenchrus-lasitrrus type of grasslands are prevalent here and cover almost the entirety of peninsular India except the Nilgiris. One sees thorny bushes like the Acacia catechu or Khair as it is known in Hindi, Mimosa, Zizyphus (Ber) and sometimes the fleshy Euphorbia, along with low trees of Anogeissus letifolia or Axle Wood, Soymida febrifuga - the Indian Redwood - and other deciduous species. Sehima (grass) which is more prevalent on gravel is about 27% of the cover and Dichanthium(grass) which flourishes on level soil is almost 80% of the coverage.

Telangana's extensive network of lakes, which enhance the state's scenic appeal and serve a vital role in delivering water for irrigation, home usage, and industrial reasons, is one of the state's most notable natural characteristics. Telangana has lakes due to its geography and the copious amounts of rain that fall there during the monsoons. Telangana is home to some of India's most stunning and ecologically significant water features, with over 6,000 natural and man-made lakes. Endowed with a rich natural resource base and a diverse environment, there are many lakes in the area, both natural and man-made, which are significant water supplies for industry, domestic use, and irrigation. The lakes of Telangana are a crucial component of the area's ecosystem and provide a habitat for many different plant and animal species. Many of the state's numerous lakes, which range in size and depth and provide visitors with breathtaking views and leisure activities like boating, fishing, and bird watching, are well-liked tourist destinations. Telangana's lakes visually represent the state's natural beauty and ecological diversity, from the picturesque Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad to the tranquil Pakhal Lake in the Warangal district.

Today I am at the Ammavaripeta Cheruvu, a small lake some kilometers away from the ancient city of Warangal. Over the last few months this small lake has garnered attention for having an unusual visitor - the Spur-winged Lapwing. There are many such locations across Telangana which are home to migrants and seasonal visitors and every experience of seeing a new bird provides a rush that one can only feel by doing something they love. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, bird and wildlife watching is a great form of recreation for people of all ages and always provides an opportunity to learn something new.

But today is about another inhabitant of this beautiful lake - the Paddyfield Pipit.

But the Paddyfield Pipit is found all across India except some parts of Northern and North Eastern India. I have photographed it at numerous other locations across multiple states but for the sake of keeping it short I will talk about only two locations here - the Ammavaripeta Cheruvu Lake near Warangal and Bhigwan Bird Sanctuary.

Ammavaripeta Cheruvu

Ammavaripeta Cheruvu is a small lake some kilometers away from the ancient city of Warangal, the erstwhile capital of the Kakatiyas. It is one of the few unpolluted lakes in the area. Located about 1.5 km from the ancient Kakatiya capital of Warangal and 3 km from the town of Kazipet, surrounded by lush green fields, the lake was constructed in AD 1213 by the Kakatiya king Ganapati Deva. The lake lies in the precincts of the village of the same name falling in the Hanamkonda Mandal in the Warangal district. A peaceful village, its claim to fame is the Sammakka Saralamma Jatara, a tribal Hindu festival to honour the tribal goddesses. Held every two years to honour the goddesses Sammakka and her daughter Sarakka (also called Saralamma), it is the time for the largest tribal congregation in the world with approximately 10 million people converging on the site over a period of 4 days. The devout offer Bellam (jaggery), locally called Bangaram (gold), to the deities. The jatra begins at the remote village of Medaram in Tadvai Mandala in the Mulugu district, deep in the Etunagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the oldest sanctuaries of Telangana, and a part of Daṇḍakāraṇya - the largest surviving forest belt in the Deccan and mentioned in the epic Rāmāyaṇa. All rituals to the goddesses are performed by the priests of the forest dwelling Koya Tribe (Koitur in Koya Bhasha) in accordance with their customs and traditions. This intangible cultural heritage of Telangana is believed to attract the largest number of devotees in the country after the Kumbha Mela. 

There are many legends about the miraculous powers of Sammakka. According to a 13th-century tribal legend, some tribal leaders on a hunt found a newborn girl (Sammakka) enveloped in light playing amidst tigers. They took her to the tribal chief, who adopted and raised her as a leader. She later became the saviour of the tribals in the region. She was married to Pagididda Raju, the tribal chief of the Koyas. Medaram was ruled by the Kakatiyas from their capital in Warangal between 1000-1323 AD. Sammakka had two daughters and one son, Sarakka alias Saralamma, Nagulamma, and Jampanna. King Prataprudra of the Kakatiyas imposed taxes on the Koya Tribe, which they could not pay. As a result, King Prataprudra declared war on the Koya Tribe. Pagididda Raju was killed in the ensuing battle forcing the grief-stricken Sammakka to pick up the fight with her daughter Saralamma, her son Jampanna, and her son-in-law Govinda Raju. Sammakka had almost won when Saralamma died in the battle. Jampanna was mortally wounded and fell bleeding into Sampangi vaagu (stream). Legend has it that the stream, a tributary of the mighty Godavari, turned red from the blood, and the stream was renamed "Jampanna Vaagu" in honour of Jampanna's sacrifice. Distraught, Sammakka retired to a hill called Chilakala Gutta and turned into a turmeric jar (kumkuma bharani) filled with kumkuma powder. After the battle, Sammakka and Saralamma were deified and a festival or jatra was organised in their honour once every 2 years. To this day, the Koya tribe and devotees believe that Sammakka and Saralamma are manifestations of Adi Parashakti (the Supreme Goddess in Hinduism - Mahadevi as the Mulaprakriti (Primordial Goddess) is described having five primary forms—Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Gayatri and Radha) sent to protect them. The jatra is a celebration to honour their sacrifice. The kumkuma jar is brought to Medaram and people wash themselves in Jampanna Vaagu, followed by an offering of Bellam or jaggery to Sammakka and Saralamma.

Several communities in Telangana society support the jatra as it is a “mythical” narrative of two tribal women leaders who rebelled against the Kakatiya rulers trying to annex their land and forests. Legend states it was Sammakka’s curse which eventually caused the gradual decline and eventual demise of the Kakatiya dynasty.

Today the small lake has garnered attention for having an unusual visitor - the Spur-winged Lapwing. There are many such location across Telangana which are home to migrants and seasonal visitors and every experience of seeing a new bird provides a rush that one can only feel by doing something they love. My friend - Ismail - and I timed our drive beautifully to reach just before sunrise and with the sun rising behind us the entire scene was bathed in beautiful golden light. After documenting the Spur-winged and the Ibis as we explored we had this pipit come and perch in close proximity. Similar story at Bhigwan too where we had finished with the flamingoes, thick-knee and the Hyenas and Wolves when we saw the pipit perched on a rock. 

Bhigwan Bird Sanctuary

When one looks to the south of Bhigwan, one sees the wide Ujni backwater wetlands, illustrated in these panoramas, a shallow waste water reserve formed by the discharge of water from the Pune region dams like Panshet, Pawna, Khadakwasla, Varasgaon, Temghar, etc. This semi waste water has created an excellent wetland based ecosystem supporting a large variety of water birds, both endemic & migratory, and also helped with the local agriculture. Nearly 300 species of endemic and migratory birds have been recorded here. The rainfall in the Pune region decides the water level in Ujni dam. Lesser the water, the shallower it is and therefore more birds make it their home in the winter.

Surrounding this lush ecosystem are the rich grasslands and fertile farms home to an equally impressive list of birds, mammals and reptiles like the Indian courser, chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, blue-cheeked bee-eater, grey francolin, woolly-necked stork, and demoiselle cranes. The Indian chameleon is often seen here and after dark, creatures of the night like the Leopard Gecko and Termite Hill Gecko are out and about. Although rare, the common sand boa, rat snake, and Russell’s viper are also spotted. The open areas around the villages host mammals like the black-naped hare, jungle cat, golden jackal, and Indian grey mongoose. The Asian palm civet can also be seen, especially at night. The extensive grasslands protect many mammals like the Chinkara, Hyena, Wolf and Indian fox. It is also popular for grassland birds and the birds of prey, including the Steppe Eagle and the rare Eastern Imperial Eagle. While largely unnoticed, frogs, toads, damselflies, dragonflies, beetles, and scorpions also inhabit the area. A study published by the Zoological Survey of India in 2002 reported 54 species of fish.

Paddyfield Pipit/ Oriental Pipit

The Paddyfield Pipit or Oriental Pipit (Anthus rufulus) is a small passerine bird in the pipit and wagtail family. It is a resident (non-migratory) breeder in open scrub, grassland and cultivation in southern Asia east to the Philippines. Although among the few breeding pipits in the Asian region, identification becomes difficult in winter when several other species migrate into the region. The taxonomy of the species is complex and has undergone considerable changes.

It is a sparrow-sized, resident pipit with brown plumage that varies in tones in different parts of its range. All birds have a bi-coloured bill with a curve to the tip of the upper bill. The breast is streaked and the upperparts have variable amounts of streaking. The juveniles show distinct and dark mottling on the upperparts. It is common in open habitats such as wetlands, farms, fields, and even large parks. It is also very similar to the Blyth’s and Richard’s Pipits, but is relatively compact with a more distinct eyebrow, fainter or no streaking on the back of the neck, a larger head, and a shorter tail than either Blyth’s or Richard’s.

The Paddyfield is a large pipit at 15 cm, but is otherwise an undistinguished looking bird, mainly streaked grey-brown above and pale below with breast streaking. It is long legged with a long tail and a long dark bill. The sexes are similar and their summer and winter plumages are similar. Young birds are more richly coloured below than adults and have the pale edges to the feathers of the upper parts more conspicuous with more prominent spotting on the breast. The population waitei from north-western India and Pakistan is pale while the population malayensis from the Western Ghats is larger, darker and more heavily streaked with the nominate rufulus which is intermediate.

It’s that time of the year when the first few winter migrants begin to trickle in. But for those who are terrified of identifying pipits, there is still some time to go before the confusing species arrive! Only one pipit species is resident across most parts of the country and that is the Paddyfield Pipit, which also makes this an excellent time of the year to familiarise oneself with the most common pipit of the region.

In winter some care must be taken to distinguish this from other pipits that winter in the area, such as Richard's pipit (Anthus richardi) and Blyth's pipit (Anthus godlewskii). The paddyfield pipit is smaller and dumpier, has a shorter looking tail and has weaker fluttering flight. The usually uttered characteristic chip-chip-chip call is quite different from usual calls of Richard's pipit (an explosive shreep) and Blyth's pipit (a nasal pschreen). The tawny pipit has less streaking on the mantle and has a black loreal stripe and a longer tail and the Western Ghats population can appear very similar to the Nilgiri pipit.

Depending on where one is, one will need to be aware of the many other pipit species that are found in the summer. These are the:

Long-billed Pipit – The nominate race breeds in rocky outcrops and habitats of peninsular India while the travancoriensis race breeds in the higher altitudes of the Western Ghats in Kerala. The race jerdoni breeds in the higher Himalayas.

Nilgiri Pipit – The pipit endemic to the Western Ghats breeds in the shola grasslands of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Upland Pipit – This bird breeds in the western Himalayas, across a fairly large altitudinal range and in open grassland and scrub habitat.

Rosy Pipit – A distinctive pipit that breeds in the high Himalayas, above the treeline.

Olive-backed Pipit – A pipit that is found commonly across the Himalayas and across a large altitudinal range in orchards, open forests, etc.

Tree Pipit – A pipit with a breeding population in the high Himalayas.

For almost every birder, pipits tend to pose a perplexing problem. In the winters especially, the ubiquitous Paddyfield Pipit exists alongside the wintering Tawny, Blyth’s and Richard’s Pipits – all of which can look like each other! The Paddyfield Pipit happens to be a bird of varied plumages and markings, and also carries a fairly impressive repertoire of sounds. This is why it is one of those birds we often mistake for something more “unlikely and exciting”, such as the pipits mentioned above. However, June to August presents a great opportunity to go out and acquaint oneself with this charming species to get a hold of some of the features that can help tell it apart from its congeners when the winter migrants arrive again.

1. Shape & Structure

   The Paddyfield Pipit is a proportionately built & compact species with a small body and a larger than typical head and bill. The breast is streaked and the upperparts have variable amounts of streaking. All birds have a bi-coloured bill with a curve to the tip of the upper bill and this is often a very good give-away. It is almost always very obviously dual-coloured, with usually a paler colour on the lower mandible and occasionally, a pale base to the upper mandible (around the nostrils). The tip of the upper mandible is curved slightly. Depending on the age of the bird, the bill can appear heavy or small and thus, it’s useful to note how much variation there is in the size of the bill itself.

2. Plumage

   The Paddyfield Pipit’s plumage can be very varied - both in colour and markings. The birds found in the arid and drier North-Western parts of the country tend to be extremely pale. In the Western Ghats the birds are often quite dark and appear heavily streaked. And the subspecies that ranges across most of India, however, the plumage bears a striking resemblance to the plumage expected on other similar pipits.

   In such situations it is best to observe the features of the face. Most will show atleast a hint of a loral stripe giving the impression that the supercilium starts from in front of the eye, goes over the eye and then behind it. The caveat here is that the lores may look marked or unmarked because of the angle. The best way to judge this feature is by looking at the bird’s side profile. When you look at the face and the distinctive supercilium, you’ll note that this is also because the cheeks of the Paddyfield Pipit are relatively well defined, dark and often have a black border running along the top. This allows for the supercilium to stand out the way it does. Note however that this is a very variable, often unreliable feature.

   Another observation point often mentioned is the streaking on the upperparts and the heads of the pipits. Unfortunately for us the Paddyfield Pipit exhibits variable streaking in darkness and density. On most Paddyfield Pipits, there is some (weak or strong) streaking on the head and upperparts. And if you observe multiple individuals, you’ll notice that the head streaking is usually separate from the streaking on the back. This is because in almost all cases, there is little to *no* streaking on the mantle. It is worth looking at the same individual over and over again from different angles to learn to observe this with ease. This is a useful feature to be able to ascertain in the field as both Blyth’s and Richard’s Pipits usually show continuous streaking from the head down to the back across the mantle. Note that very young birds break this rule and show dark and distinct streaking all over (including the mantle). No need to worry though as these birds do not really look like any of the other species either and still retain the overall shape and structure of the adults! The juvenile plumage is also lost fairly early (usually before the wintering birds arrive) and it’s highly unlikely to see a migratory species in its juvenile plumage.

   A third observation area could be noting the centres of the median converts. With a little practice and field experience it is easy to latch onto the subtle differences. The median coverts of all the mentioned pipits are bordered by a pale colour with a dark shape in the centre. The shape and the contrast between the colour of the centre and the border are relevant to identification. To put this in context with other species, the Paddyfield Pipit’s median coverts are bounded by a relatively mild buffy border that does not contrast strongly with the centres to the median coverts. In the Blyth’s Pipit, for example, the almost white border contrasts so strongly that it appears like the bird has wing-bars. Additionally, the shape of the dark centres of the median coverts in Paddyfield Pipits are not very pointy and nor are they squarish. They are, in contrast, very pointy in a Richard’s Pipit and quite squarish in a Blyth’s Pipit. But there is a caveat: 1st winter birds usually have very variable median covert patterns and contrasts, and it is best to ignore this feature if those are the birds you’re dealing with. You can usually tell a 1st winter bird by its mottled, overly streaked plumage (often showing streaking in places where adults wouldn’t show any!) and fleshy gape (base of the bill).

3. Calls

   When it comes to identifying birds in the field – the call is often the first (and most important) clue an observer will get to a bird’s identity. And it is pretty much the only aspect that doesn’t require close views of the bird! The larger pipits are rather vocal and can possess a surprisingly large repertoire of calls. This is why summer is a great time to get to know the calls of the Paddyfield Pipits better lest you come across a call that may sound different but is actually a Paddyfield Pipit (or vice versa!). Most of the Paddyfield Pipits’ calls are sharp single notes usually sounding like a “chip” or “chup”. Sometimes, two notes are delivered together and sound a bit like a “sipsip” or a “tsit-it”. The Paddyfield Pipits also indulge in a display flight (which involves hovering over their grassy habitats with quivering wings) and deliver a song when doing so. This sounds like a hard, buzzy rattling “click-click-click-…” or a “sip-sip-sip…” often recalling the song of a prinia.

All of these features mentioned above are best used in a combination and not in isolation, since neither is diagnostic by itself. If a bird shows most of the mentioned features then it is probably a Paddyfield Pipit. All of these points might or might not clarify pipits but experienced observers will often reinforce that the best way to learn how to identify pipits is to go out and observe them as much as possible! Take photos, record sounds and notice the nuances in plumage, posture and behaviour and you’re bound to pick up patterns that are unique to the species you are observing. There is no better time to observe the most common species from the one of the most confusing groups of birds in our region than the non-migratory season (because this is a resident species, unlike it’s similar looking cousins) and everyone is encouraged to find a patch of suitable habitat nearby and look for some pipits! But no matter what, some pipits will always escape identification to species level. In that case, do not forget to use pipit sp. if you are entering your sightings on eBird!

The Paddyfield Pipit is about 15–16 cm long and weighs between 17·4–22·7 grams. The nominate race has a long creamy to buff supercillium tapering at the rear, pale lores occasionally with a darkish loral stripe, a dark submousta­chial stripe, a prominent dark malar stripe and patch; above, greyish-brown, streaked blackish, less streaked on the back and rump. The primaries, secondaries and primary coverts are dark brown with narrow white edges, tertials and secondary wing-coverts tipped and edged rufous, the greater coverts paler with broad sandy-buff edges and tips. The median coverts have blackish centres and broad buff-white tips (forming wingbar), the lesser coverts are a sandy brown; the tail a blackish-brown, edges of T1 tinged rufous, T5 and T6 with outer web and much of distal inner web white. The upper throat is white while the lower throat, breast and flanks are a deep buff, the belly is white, and there is a band of fine blackish streaks across the breast. The underwing-coverts and axillaries are creamy buff, the iris is dark brown and the upper mandible is dark grey unlike the lower mandible which is a pale pink and sometimes yellowish. The legs are pale pink or yellowish-pink with a long hind claw about 10–14 mm long. The Paddyfield differs from the very similar A. richardi in shorter legs, generally paler with greyer and less heavily streaked plumage, the median coverts with dark centres are more square-cut (less pointed) and margins paler and narrower. The sexes are alike while the juvenile has unmarked pale lores, pale tawny feather edges on upperparts giving scaly effect, two indistinct pale wing bars, is more sharply streaked below and the pale edgings are lost by first winter. The race waite is paler grey and less heavily streaked than the nominate while the race malayensis is darkest, most heavily streaked. The race albidus is small, greyish above & whitish below. The race medius is like last but more buffy above, more ochraceous and less white below. The race lugubris has upperparts light buffy brown, streaked dark brown, underparts buffy white.

Six subspecies are recognised:

Anthus rufulus waitei - Distributed NW Indian Subcontinent (C & E Afghanistan, Pakistan, NW India; two recent records in SE Iran)

Anthus rufulus rufulus - Distributed across most of Indian Subcontinent (except NW, N and extreme SW) E to S China, S to S Thailand and Indochina.

Anthus rufulus malayensis - Distributed across extreme SW India (Nilgiri Hills), Sri Lanka, Malay Peninsula, S Indochina, Sumatra, Java and N and SE Borneo.

Anthus rufulus lugubris - Distributed across the Philippines; possibly also N Borneo.

Anthus rufulus albidus - Distributed across Sulawesi, Bali and W Lesser Sundas (Lombok, Sumbawa, Komodo, Padar, Rinca, Flores, Sumba).

Anthus rufulus medius - Distributed across E Lesser Sundas (Sawu, Roti, Timor, Kisar, Leti, Moa, Sermata).

The Paddyfield Pipit is a resident bird with some local and altitudinal movements and it frequents open country, short grasslands, paddyfields, stubble fields and cultivations, also airfields, roadsides, wetland edges, savanna woodland. To 1000 m, exceptionally to 3000 m, in Pakistan and NW India (race waitei); malayensis occurs to 2100 m in Sri Lanka and to 1500 m in Sumatra, and in SW India (Nilgiri Hills) is largely replaced by A. nilghiriensis above 1800 m (some overlap). From sea-level to 2400 m in Wallacea. It is a summer visitor in the Himalayan foothills (race waitei).

Their diet consists mainly of adult and larval insects, ants, bugs, termites also spiders. Some weed seeds and vegetable matter has also been recorded. They forage mainly on the ground picking terrestrial invertebrates, singly or in pairs and occasionally in small groups.

The Paddyfield pipit is classified as Least Concern as it is not globally threatened. It is common throughout most of its range and there is no evidence of any decline in any region.

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