Species:

Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)

Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

Change species:
Main Images:
Length (cm):
14-14
14-14
Wingspan (cm):
22-25
20-22
Weight (gram):
15-22
14-21
Size group:
Sparrow-size
Sparrow-size
Main Texts:
Appearance:

Streaking on flanks just as heavy as that on chest (see Tree Pipit). Legs pinkish. Hind toe long and almost straight. Bill slender with yellowish base. Rump unstreaked. Jerky flight pattern. Generally a featureless bird, and is easily confused with other pipits. Best identified by sound.

Sound:

Contact call a short "eest". Similar to Rock Pipit but shorter,cleaner and most often in quick series. Song very similar to Rock Pipit, but tone less full and more brittle. Lacks Rock Pipit's closing trill, and beginning is less "hammering". Warning call a sharp, high pitched "tzeet". Also a rattling "trrrrt".

Song:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Appearance:

Rufous red face, throat and chest, framed in slate grey in adults of both sexes. Olive brown to grey upperparts and dull white underparts. Head rather large, and body rather stocky when plumage puffed, despite thin bill and slender legs. Juveniles lack the red front and are heavily spotted in buff on a dark brown body with barred chest. Adults pretty unmistakable when seen well. Flight usually low and darting, with quick changes of directions before disappearing in thick bushes. Posture usually erect with frequent flicking of tail and wings.

Sound:

Alarm call a thin, electric "tick", often in series with decelerating tempo. Song medium to very high pitched, with mostly clear tones with a liquid quality. Timbre reminiscent of Wren or Dunnock, but with a much more varied structure and tempo. Pitch ranges from very high to low, almost thrush-like, notes. No recognizable motifs. Often ends on a rising or falling pitch, giving it a "Chinese" accent.

Song:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Silhouette Group:
Wagtail/pipit-like
Silhouette
Thrush-like
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage
ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage
Several different sounds of the species
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file