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- Anthus petrosus
Identification
A robust Pipit, obviously larger than Meadow Pipit.
Classic nominate birds they are strikingly dark, so much so that the diffuse black streaks on their underparts become almost lost in a dark grey-brown wash. The most prominent facial feature is a whitish eye-ring, usually broken at the lores.
Most can be told from the similar structured Water Pipit by their dull grey, not white, outer tail feathers and by their all dark head with no eyestripe or wingbars. However Scandinavian Rock pipits of the race A.p.littoralis may have obvious eyestripes and wing bars and some white in their outer tail and in spring their breasts become paler, pinker and less streaked much like Water Pipits. Fortunatley they usually show some diffuseness to the breast streaking and more strongly streaked mantle. In non-breeding plumage littoralis Rock pipits can also be distinguished from Water Pipit by their grey to olivaceous rather than brownish upperparts.
Distribution
Taxonomy
Forms superspecies with the recently split Water Pipit and Buff-bellied Pipit
Here are two threads which discuss the contentious subject of racial identification of Rock Pipit and separation from Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta. [[1]] [[2]]
Habitat
Rocky areas.
Behaviour
The diet includes insects, beetles, small fish, small shellfish and seeds.
The call of both races is a Fisst, markedly more emphatic than Meadow Pipit.
References
External Links
