Anthus pratensis -- (Linnaeus, 1758) ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- PASSERIFORMES -- Common names: Meadow ; Pipit des prés European Red List Assessment European Red List Status NT -- Near Threatened, (IUCN version 3.1) Assessment Information Year published: 2015 Date assessed: 2015-03-31 Assessor(s): BirdLife International Reviewer(s): Symes, A. Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L. Assessment Rationale European regional assessment: Near Threatened (NT) EU27 regional assessment: Vulnerable (VU)

This pipit has undergone a moderately rapid population decline in Europe, and is classified as Near Threatened. Within the EU27 declines have been more rapid, resulting in its classification as Vulnerable (A2abc+3bc+4abc). Occurrence Countries/Territories of Occurrence Native: Albania; Austria; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Faroe Islands (to DK); Greenland (to DK); Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland, Rep. of; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Malta; Moldova; Montenegro; Netherlands; Norway; Svalbard and Jan Mayen (to NO); Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom; Gibraltar (to UK) Population The European population is estimated at 9,670,000-15,000,000 pairs, which equates to 19,300,000-30,000,000 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 4,250,000-7,200,000 pairs, which equates to 8,500,000-14,400,000 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Trend In Europe the population size is estimated to be decreasing at a rate approaching 30% in 11.4 years (three generations). In the EU27 the population size is estimated to be decreasing by 30-49% in the same period. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Habitats and Ecology This species breeds in a wide range of open habitats, such as tundra, moorland and heathland, bogs, saltmarshes, dunes, coastal meadows, hillsides, forest clearings, fallow land and occasionally in arable land. In northern Europe peatland is a preferred habitat, while in the British uplands it favours a mosaic of heather ( ), bog and grassland. In the winter it is also found along seashores. It breeds from late March to August. The nest is a neat cup of grass, lined with finer grass and hair and is concealed amongst vegetation on the ground. Clutches range from two to seven eggs and clutch size increases with latitude (Tyler 2004). It feeds mainly on but does consume some plant seeds in the autumn and winter (Snow and Perrins 1998). The species is mainly resident or a partial migrant in western Europe. from Greenland and Iceland migrate to western Europe. Northern and eastern populations are generally medium-distance migrants (Tyler 2004). Habitats & Altitude Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence Artificial/Terrestrial - Pastureland marginal breeding Grassland - Temperate suitable breeding Grassland - Temperate suitable non-breeding Grassland - Tundra suitable breeding Grassland - Tundra suitable non-breeding Marine Coastal/Supratidal - Coastal Sand Dunes suitable breeding Marine Intertidal - Rocky Shoreline suitable non-breeding Marine Intertidal - Salt Marshes (Emergent Grasses) suitable breeding Marine Intertidal - Salt Marshes (Emergent Grasses) suitable non-breeding Marine Intertidal - Sandy Shoreline and/or Beaches, Sand Bars, Spits, Etc suitable non-breeding Marine Intertidal - Shingle and/or Pebble Shoreline and/or Beaches suitable non-breeding Marine Intertidal - Tidepools suitable non-breeding Wetlands (inland) - Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands suitable breeding Altitude max. 1600 m Occasional altitudinal limits Threats The main cause of declines is thought to be agricultural intensification (Tyler 2004). Populations undergo large annual fluctuations dependent on the severity of the weather on migration and in its wintering areas (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997). Threats & Impacts Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses Agriculture & Agro-industry Timing Scope Severity Impact aquaculture farming Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Low Impact Declines Stresses Ecosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation Climate change & Storms & flooding Timing Scope Severity Impact severe weather Past, Likely to Majority (50-90%) Causing/Could Past Impact Return cause fluctuations Stresses Indirect ecosystem effects; Species mortality Conservation Conservation Actions Underway Bern Convention Appendix II. There are currently no known conservation measures for this species.

Conservation Actions Proposed The maintenance and promotion of low-intensity farming methods may benefit this species. Bibliography Hagemeijer, W.J.M. and Blair, M.J. 1997. The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds: Their Distribution and Abundance. T & A D Poyser, London. Snow, D.W. and Perrins, C.M. 1998. The Birds of the Western Palearctic vol. 2: . Oxford University Press, Oxford. Tyler, S. 2004. Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. and de Juana, E. (eds.) 2014. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/57798 on 23 March 2015). Map (see overleaf)