Page 285 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

PIPITS AND WAGTAILS
Order Passeriformes Family Motacillidae Species Anthus trivialis
Tree Pipit strong pale
stripe over eye
neat black stripes on
blackish pale back (plumage
tail with similar to juvenile) upperparts browner pinkish-
white in summer based bill
sides
dark spots across
wings
thin blackish
streaks on
ADULT
(SPRING) chest
plain, pale
yellowish
ADULT (AUTUMN) flanks
IN FLIGHT
buff-yellow
underside
FLIGHT: quite strong, direct, slightly undulating
with bursts of quick wingbeats; often flies up into
tree; less hesitant than Meadow Pipit.
ne of the small, streaky pipits,
Othe Tree Pipit is very like a thin, pale
pink legs
Meadow Pipit but is more confident- with short
looking and sleeker, although thickset: small claws
points of character rather than plumage features ADULT (SPRING)
separate these little brown birds. It also has a superb song, rich
and musical, in a distinctive song-flight, so summer males are not
so difficult to identify. For autumn migrants, a call- STRIKING SONG
note may be necessary for positive identification. Whether from a tree or in flight,
While they do often occur within sight of each the Tree Pipit’s song is rich and
other,Tree and Meadow Pipits have different musical with Canary-like trills.
habitats,Tree Pipits occurring mostly on woodland
edges and Meadow Pipits on heaths or moorlands.
VOICE Distinctive calls, including low, hissy buzz,
teeess or teaze, thin, sharp tzit; loud, sweet song, with
long series of notes and fast trills ending in loud,
slow sweee-sweee-sweee, from perch or in flight ending
on tree or bush.
NESTING Grassy cup on ground in thick grass;
4–6 eggs; 1 or 2 broods;April–July.
FEEDING Takes small insects from ground.
OCCURRENCE
SIMILAR SPECIES Breeds in most of Europe except
in Ireland and Iceland. Occurs from
MEADOW PIPIT ROCK PIPIT crest spring to autumn only, usually in
sharper call; see p.281
see p.282 bigger and open woodland, woodland glades,
heavier or around edges of plantations, on
darker
bushy heaths and moors with
scattered trees; migrants in more
open areas at coasts.
longer dark legs SKYLARK Seen in the UK
hind claw see p.265 J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 15cm (6in) Wingspan 25–27cm (10–10 1 ⁄2in) Weight 20–25g ( 11 ⁄16 – 7 ⁄8oz)
Social Solitary Lifespan Up to 5 years Status Secure
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