Page 441 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

PIPITS AND WAGTAILS/THRUSHES
Family Motacillidae Species Anthus gustavi Family Motacillidae Species Motacilla citreola
Pechora Pipit Citrine Wagtail
Slim and streaky like most pipits, the Pechora Pipit has In spring, male Citrine Wagtails look like Yellow
bolder pale stripes on the back (edged black), striking Wagtails (see p.286), but with a greyer back and a
white wingbars, a buff breast, a white belly streaked narrow black band between the back and yellow head.
with black, and a pinkish-based bill. It is difficult to see Females lack the black, have less yellow, but show
well and crouches when disturbed.The breast/belly yellow around dark cheeks (which have a paler centre).
contrast, wingbars, and longer wingtips help Autumn juveniles are like young Pied Wagtails (see
separate it from a juvenile Red- p.285), with a plainer chest; they have
throated Pipit (see p.284). pale-centred cheeks, and are pale buffish
OCCURRENCE Rare vagrant between the eye and bill. black
in autumn in NW Europe, OCCURRENCE Regular in collar
from Asia. bold Middle East, rare in SE Europe,
VOICE Short, slightly streaks vagrant (mostly autumn) in
buzzed, clicking dzep, NW Europe.
not often heard. two VOICE Like Yellow, but
wingbars harsh, distinctly
buzzed tzsip.

yellow
underside

MALE
(SPRING)
Length 14–15cm (5 1 ⁄2 –6in) Wingspan 23–25cm (9–10in) Length 16–17cm (6 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 24–27cm (9 1 ⁄2 –10 1 ⁄2in)

Family Turdidae Species Luscinia luscinia Family Turdidae Species Cercotrichas galactotes
Thrush Nightingale Rufous Bush Robin
Looking very much like the Nightingale (see p.296), Bush robins, mostly an African group, are small, long-
this is a somewhat drabber species, more olive-grey, tailed chats, often raising and fanning their tails and
with a less obvious rufous tail. It typically has a clouded bounding along in leaping hops on the ground.This
greyish chest, with soft, diffuse, darker mottles and species is bright buff, with a ginger-orange tail tipped
faint streaks on the breast (Nightingales are usually with narrow black and big white spots. A bold white
plainer on the throat and breast).The yellow gape of line over the eye and black eye-stripe are
a Thrush Nightingale is often more distinct. In SE Europe and the Middle bold white
line
obvious than on a Nightingale. East, birds have dull sandy brown on the
OCCURRENCE Breeds in head and back, with a contrasted rufous
S Scandinavia and NE and rump.The tail spots are especially
E Europe; rare migrant obvious in flight.
in W Europe. OCCURRENCE Scarce breeder
VOICE Sharp whistle, in S Spain, Balkans, Middle East,
and croaked, creaky and North Africa.
call; song very rich VOICE Clicking
and varied, loud and buzzing
faint
and far-carrying. calls; high,
markings
on breast clear, thrush- rufous tail
like song. with white
spots
dull tail

Length 15–17cm (6–6 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 24–26cm (9 1 ⁄2 –10in) Length 15–17cm (6–6 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 22–27cm (9–10 1 ⁄2in)
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