Water & Rock Pipit

[htcdude]

Several recent threads have asked about Pipit IDs, thought this might be of use to some people. I found it useful anywhere:

Water and Rock Pipits

This is the best I have for Meadow and Tree - http://www.birdwatch.co.uk/categorie...c=119&item=495

Nige

[Fiona Ward]

That is really useful, Thanks

[RoyW]

I think that some people will find the Rock and Water Pipit page useful over the next few months - but the Meadow & Tree Pipit ID page won't be of much use until the spring (although it may be a page that's worth "book-marking" ready for use then!). The Rock and Water Pipit page will also be one that will be worth referring to again in the spring - the pitfall caused by Scandinavian (littoralis) Rock Pipits and moulting Water Pipits really stirs things up a bit!
There is a chance that a Tree Pipit might be found during the winter I suppose, but if you're not sure enough about the features to identify it at the time of observation (carefully checking all features, including the call), then I don't think that you can claim a Tree Pipit until March at the very earliest!

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by RoyW

the pitfall caused by Scandinavian (littoralis) Rock Pipits and moulting Water Pipits really stirs things up a bit!

Always pleasant to see the littoralis pipits coming into summer plumage in the spring and seeing them besides the petrosus ones in the local wintering populations.

[hatless]

Thank you. Very interesting. I'm glad other people find these distinctions tricky, too.