U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Sprague’s Pipit (Anthus spragueii) Conservation Plan Doug Backlund, Wild Photos Photography © 2 Spragues’s Pipit (Anthus spragueii) Conservation Plan U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Sprague’s Pipit (Anthus spragueii) Conservation Plan Stephanie L. Jones U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Region 6, Nongame Migratory Bird Coordinator, Denver, CO Cover Image: Sprague’s Pipit Photo Credit: Doug Backlund, Wild Photos Photography © � i Author contact information: For additional copies or information, contact: Stephanie L. Jones U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 6 � U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 6 � Nongame Migratory Bird Coordinator � Nongame Migratory Bird Coordinator � P. O. Box 25486 DFC � P. O. Box 25486 DFC � Denver, CO 80225-0486 � Denver, CO 80225-0486 � Phone: 303-236-4409 � Recommended citation: Email: [email protected] � Jones, S. L. 2010. Sprague’s Pipit � (Anthus spragueii) conservation plan. U.S. � Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, � Washington, D.C. � ii Spragues’s Pipit (Anthus spragueii) Conservation Plan Table of Contents � List of Figures ......................................................................................................................................................... vi List of Tables ......................................................................................................................................................... vii � Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................................. viii � Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................................. ix � Taxonomy ................................................................................................................................................................ 1 � Legal Status ............................................................................................................................................................ 2 Global ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Canada ........................................................................................................................................................... 2 United States ........................................................................................................................................................ 2 México ........................................................................................................................................................... 2 � Description ............................................................................................................................................................. 4 � Range ...................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Canada ........................................................................................................................................................... 6 United States ................................................................................................................................................ 6 México ........................................................................................................................................................... 7 Historical Changes ...................................................................................................................................... 7 � Biology .................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Breeding ........................................................................................................................................................ 9 Arrival ..................................................................................................................................................... 9 Breeding Display ................................................................................................................................... 9 Territoriality .......................................................................................................................................... 9 Foraging Behavior ................................................................................................................................ 9 Diet ......................................................................................................................................................... 9 Nest Characteristics ............................................................................................................................ 9 Nesting Behavior .................................................................................................................................. 9 Incubation .............................................................................................................................................. 9 Clutches per Year .................................................................................................................................. 9 Clutch Size ........................................................................................................................................... 10 Nesting Stage ...................................................................................................................................... 10 Fledging ............................................................................................................................................... 10 Nest Success ........................................................................................................................................ 10 Predation .............................................................................................................................................. 10 Nest Parasitism ................................................................................................................................... 10 Mortality Other Than Predation ....................................................................................................... 10 Return Rates ........................................................................................................................................ 10 Habitat ................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Breeding ...................................................................................................................................................... 11 Nests and Nest Sites ........................................................................................................................... 11 Patch Size .............................................................................................................................................. 11 Management ......................................................................................................................................... 11 � Table of Contents iii Migration ..................................................................................................................................................... 12 Wintering ..................................................................................................................................................... 12 United States ........................................................................................................................................ 12 México .................................................................................................................................................... 12 � Population Trends and Estimates ......................................................................................................................... 13 Trends .......................................................................................................................................................... 13 Breeding Bird Survey ............................................................................................................................... 13 Rangewide ............................................................................................................................................ 13 Canada .................................................................................................................................................. 13 United States ....................................................................................................................................... 15 Christmas Bird Count ............................................................................................................................... 15 United States ....................................................................................................................................... 15 México ..................................................................................................................................................