Water Pipit

Anthus spinoletta

Photo by Daniele Occhiato
Photo taken: Appennino pistoiese, Tuscany - Italy.

Identification

Similar in build to Rock Pipit, being robust and significantly larger and longer-tailed than Meadow Pipit. In winter, Water Pipits are browner than Rock Pipits with much clearer, whiter more sharply and lightly streaked underparts, less streaked mantles and more strikingly pale wing-bars. The supercilium tends to be the dominant facial feature, (eye-ring in Rock Pipit). Water Pipits often have black legs but many wintering birds do have pale legs. The completely white outer web to the outer tail feathers of a Water Pipit should rule out most Rock Pipits, though to be 100% certain, there is a white tip to the second outermost tail feather which is never more than small and off white in even the palest, most bleached littoralis Rock Pipit

In summer plumage the more or less unstreaked underparts, vinous flush on the breast and greyish unmarked mantle and head are very distinctive, in addition to the features mentioned above.

Distribution & Taxonomy

Forms superspecies with Rock Pipit and Buff-bellied Pipit. Localised from the former on habitat preferences and by the latter on range, though there is some evidence of interbreeding

Behaviour

Call is a strong Zinc, subtly different to Rock Pipit's Fisst

Sites to see Water Pipit in U.K.

one of the most reliable sites in the UK to Water Pipit is Neston Old Quay. Best time to go is March on a high tide. Birds frequent the meadow by the stream. Caution is required however since this is also an excellent site for the potentially confusable Scandinavian Rock Pipit

Bird Song

<flashmp3>Anthus spinoletta (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

External Links

Search for photos of Water Pipit in the gallery