About Anthus novaeseelandiae (Gmelin, 1789)
Anthus novaeseelandiae (Gmelin, 1789) is a slender bird measuring 16 to 19 cm in length, with an average weight of about 40 grams. Its upper plumage is pale brown marked with dark streaks, while its underparts are pale, with additional streaks across the breast. The species has a pale stripe running over the eye, plus dark malar and moustachial stripes. It has a long tail with white outer feathers that it often wags up and down. Its legs are long and pinkish-brown, and its bill is slender and brownish. This bird occupies open habitats including grassland, farmland, roadsides, dry river beds, sand dunes, and open woodland. It forages on the ground for small invertebrates such as beetles, spiders, and insect larvae, and also feeds on seeds, particularly grass seeds. Populations of this bird have declined in parts of New Zealand, driven by pasture improvement, pesticide use, and predation by introduced species.
