Meadow Pipit Id Please!!

[Polecat]

I must be cracking up!!.......can someone please confirm that this is a meadow pipit..even though it lacks the head markings.

Taken at around 1,500' asl.

Thanks
Andy

[Ollie]

Looks like a Meadow Pipit beak and shape, but the lack of head markings give me doubt. Could it be a young one that hasn't developed it's full markings as yet.
Ollie

[Gill Catton]

Yeah I think I agree, esp as rock pipit really are quite coastal I think though the bird in your pic looks quite dark that could be the weather and therefore the lighting?

[Polecat]

I had no doubts when I saw it.....but the photo showed no head markings. It is the only clearish pic i have, and for some reason, as is usual, posting it degrades it so much. Gill, The original shows the head clearly as being one shade with no darker patches at all, except that little yellow streak above its bib, yet the photo shows more detail than I saw with my eye......didn't have time to get the scope on it.

if last years young could still be developing their plumage it would most likely be a pipit. At the time I was watching a reed bunting you see.......

Unlike that other 'warbler' i posted, I don't think theres a doubt it was a pipit, so if you can confirm the young keep some immature plumage thru the winter ollie that would be a help.....

Thanks

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by Polecat

I had no doubts when I saw it.....but the photo showed no head markings. It is the only clearish pic i have, and for some reason, as is usual, posting it degrades it so much. Gill, The original shows the head clearly as being one shade with no darker patches at all, except that little yellow streak above its bib, yet the photo shows more detail than I saw with my eye......didn't have time to get the scope on it.

if last years young could still be developing their plumage it would most likely be a pipit. At the time I was watching a reed bunting you see.......

Unlike that other 'warbler' i posted, I don't think theres a doubt it was a pipit, so if you can confirm the young keep some immature plumage thru the winter ollie that would be a help.....

Thanks

Unfortunately, cant confirm the young keep some imature plumage thru winter at moment as I'm at work and no reference books with me but will see if I can find out tomorrow and post again.
Ollie

[Alan]

Don't forget there isn't a definite standard, so to speak, for a species features (like crufts ). Within a group you can get many different colours and markings. About a month ago I was watching a meadow pipit with a white head!

[Ollie]

Checked everywhere I can think of and can't come up with anything about the young ones keeping imature plumage through the winter. As Alan rightly says though the markings can be very variable in the same species.
Ollie

[Polecat]

Thks Ollie & Alan .

I often forget about Plumage variations !!!......I should write Buzzards 100 times!!!