The Rock Pipit
Rock
Pipit Anthus s. petrosus L 16. Fairly common
on rocky coasts of Britain and NW France; Scandinavian
race littoralis occurs in Britain Oct-Apr. In
summer plumage upperparts rather uniform greyish-olive,
only slightly tinged brown (become greyer with
wear, back faintly streaked; supercilium and
wingbar illdefined; breast and flanks usually
well streaked, streaks prominent but diffuse
on yellowish-dusky ground; outer tail feathers
marked dusky or greyish-white (a little paler
in littoralis). Variant summer plumage described
under Water Pipit. Distinguished from Meadow
and Tree Pipits by dark brown legs (but juveniles
in summer reddish-brown, heavier bill and more
diffuse streaking below on duskier ground. Song
plain like Meadow's. Call like Meadow's though
not so short and excitedly jumpy but more emphatic
and usually only single or double note: "weest-weest".
Alarm a Tree Pipit-like "sit, sit". RWP
An
excellent pocket reference book for recognising
birds is the Hamlyn Guide to Birds of Britain
and Europe, which is a comprehensive reference
guide to Britain and mainland Europe's plethora
of ornithological life.
