Confirmation of ID - Rock Pipit?

[Matt_IOM]

Saw this little chap scurrying around while out for a walk this afternoon. It was on the sea wall above a beach.

I think it's a Rock Pipit - can anyone confirm this as I'm not 100& sure



Best wishes,
Matt.

[Hedge Witch]

Yes Matt, a Rock Pipit

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Hedge Witch

Yes Matt, a Rock Pipit

It is indeed!

[leifus]

yes nice find!

[big bill]

Hello Matt myself I think its a Meadow Pipit,reason being in the rock the legs are dark,in the Meadow the legs are red/pink also there is the yellow part in the bill with the Meadow where as in the Rock its dark,

[PeterD]

Hi Matt,

I agree, Rock Pipit. The difference between the Meadow Pipit (which I see frequently here at Langstone Harbour) and the Rock Pipit are small. The beak colour really clinched it for me. The leg colour confused me at first as the Rock Pipit's legs are dark brown to black and your image suggested a lighter colour similar to the Meodow Pipit. Might have been a trick of the light. I have been known to get caught out on this previously.
Nice images.
Peter

[aeshna5]

Though Rock Pipits generally have dark legs, some individuals do have paler legs, so in itself is not a diagnostic feature. The plumage fits Rock Pipit well + the outer tail feathers do appear pale grey rather than white.

[Picidae]

Re: Bill colour and legs: Petrosis Rock Pipit tend to show paler bill base. Bill colour in Meadow is variable and can be dark to orange! Legs in Petrosis Rock range from very dark brown to orangey brown, legs never the bright pink/orange of a Meadow Pipit though. Mantles are dark streaked on a more olive tone base, Meadow tend to show brighter tramlines down back. Tail sides can be almost white as in Meadow Pipit, especially in some light, so can be confused with Meadow. (cf. some paler looking Scandinavian Rock Pipits, which tend to have darker bill and a stronger pale supercillium (eyebrow) paler and where Water Pipit is the potential confusion!). Best features is heavy bill (narrow and pointed in Meadow but again variable!!) and diffuse flank streaking with an overall olive sullied look (Meadow's have finer clear streaking along the flanks), the latter probably the most reliable feature. If you get good views, hind claw is much shorter than on Meadow.