Sombre Tit (Poecile lugubris)
Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta)
Like a Great Tit-sized Willow Tit. Dark bib very large much bigger. The hood is also extended, and covers more of the head than in Willow Tit, making the white cheeks very narrow and wedge-shaped. Bulky build, with broad head and strong bill. Told from Siberian Tit by complete lack of buff tones to underparts and flanks. Less acrobatic than other tits, and bill powerful enough to tear seeds apart like a finch.
Sound:Structurally resembling other tits call and song. Usually recognised by its distinct timbre. Its peculiar, rapidly modulated voice sometimes resembles a tit with added electronic effects. Call: a characteristic "tz tz chrrt", resembling the alarm call of House-sparrow.
Song:
Distribution:
Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCEasy to identify when seen in mountainous habitat where Rock Pipit does not occur, but harder when occasionally seen at the coast where both species may be present. Told from Rock Pipit by: Contrasting, double wing-bars, unstreaked belly (and only modestly streaked flanks), brownish rump, broad supercilium, paler underwing and pure white outer tail feathers. Summer plumage with more strongly coloured buff or pinkish underparts and greyer upperparts, but difficult to identify when plumage worn.
Sound:Similar to Rock Pipit. Song slightly more melodious, often with Tree Pipit like glissandi at end of phrase. Contact call sharper and more drawn.
Song:
Distribution:
Xeno-canto: map
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CC