Paddyfield Pipit - Taxonomy and Systematics

Taxonomy and Systematics

Some of the subspecies in the group were formerly treated as a subspecies of the Australasian Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae and the grouping has been in state of flux. Considerable colour and morphological variation with age and latitude make the species difficult to identify museum specimens. Six subspecies are now included in this species.

• rufulus described by Vieillot in 1818 - found in most of Indian Subcontinent (except NW, N and extreme SW) E to S China, S to S Thailand and Indochina.
• waitei described by Hugh Whistler in 1936 (not always recognized) is found in the dry zone of the northwestern part of the Indian Subcontinent
• malayensis described by Eyton in 1839 is the dark form of the wet zone of the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka
• lugubris described by Viscount Walden in 1875 - found in Philippines; possibly also N Borneo.
• albidus described by Stresemann in 1912 - found in Sulawesi, Bali and W Lesser Sundas (Lombok, Sumbawa, Komodo, Padar, Rinca, Flores, Sumba).
• medius described by Wallace in 1864 - found in E Lesser Sundas (Sawu, Roti, Timor, Kisar, Leti, Moa, Sermata).