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Nilgiri pipit
A streaky brown pipit that lives only in the open montane grassland of the high Western Ghats above about 1,600 m: not in forest, not in gardens, and nowhere else on earth.
How to recognise it
Walk the open grassland slopes and watch for a small brown bird that runs rather than hops, flushes low and drops back into the grass. It is more heavily streaked below than the wintering pipits.
Protection
Researchers have formally recommended uplisting to Endangered
Where to see it
Munnar
A range-wide survey in 2017–2018 found the contiguous grassland of Eravikulam and the adjoining Grass Hills to be the only remaining patch where the pipit is still abundant and invasive trees have not taken large areas.
Eravikulam National Park (in season) · Meesapulimala (in season)
Ooty & Coonoor
Its total suitable habitat is estimated at no more than about 436 square kilometres, and invasive Scotch broom and wattle are taking over the grassland it needs. This is the species that makes the Wenlock Downs grassland worth protecting as grassland, not planting up.
Wenlock Downs (in season) · Avalanche & Emerald Lakes (Eco-Safari) (in season)