Anthus pratensis - Meadow Pipit
Feather characters. Barbules are from short until medium length (0.49-1.15 mm). Barbules are divided into pigmented nodes and unpigmented or partly pigmented (less than 50%) internodes. Bell-shaped nodes are equally distributed along the entire length of barbules (37-48 per mm). They all are about the same size, slightly decreasing towards distal end. Villi are rounded and internodes are straight. Minute prongs are present on distal end of barbules and on both sides of the pennulum. Barbules have this typical structure for Passeriformes; pigmented, bell-shaped nodes combined with rounded villi.
Field characters. Size 14.5 cm. Weight 18.4 g (13.9-23.4) (Dunning, 1993). General colour somewhat variable. Mainly greyish-brown, greenish-brown or olive, with dark spots and streaks on upper- and underparts. Breast suffused with yellow-brown, breast and flanks heavily spotted, belly whitish. Whitish supercilium and malar stripe, narrow dark moustachial stripe, white throat. Two whitish wing bars. Tail dark, with white on outer tail feathers. Legs pink or greyish; never as blackish as in Rock Pipit (Anthus petrosus, not included in BRIS) or Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta, not included in BRIS). Often very difficult to distinguish from Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis, not included in BRIS), except on voice. Other trenchant characters are less pronounced facial pattern of Meadow Pipit, and usually more yellow tones in plumage and more pinkish legs of Tree Pipit. Both species are often found on the ground or perch in trees, especially when disturbed. In pairs during breeding season, usually in small or large flocks outside breeding season, together with other pipits, larks, etc.
Voice. Calls thin 'eest' and 'teeseep'. Song series of 'tsee'-notes, accelerating and ending in trill, during which bird glides down like a parachute.
Distribution. Common; summer visitor in north-eastern part of range, resident and migrant in west and south. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Mainly found in open areas with complete cover of low vegetation. In winter in wider variety of habitats, but always near low cover.
Food. Mainly invertebrates, also some seeds. Feeds almost exclusively on the ground.