winter

winter summer European distribution summer adult on ground

Identification

Although the Rock and Water Pipit are similar in build and vocalisations, they breed in completely different habitats and the Water Pipit has a strikingly different summer plumage. In winter, Water Pipits are browner than Rock Pipits with much clearer, whiter more lightly streaked underparts and more completely pale wingbars. Also they have very clean white underparts (which are slightly streaked) and two white wingbars in winter. They can look more like Meadow Pipits but are clearly bigger, with stouter bills, more diffuse streaking and usually an obvious eye-stripe. Water Pipits are supposed to have black legs but many wintering birds do have pale legs. The completely white outer-tail feathers of a Water Pipit should eliminate all notions of Rock Pipit, even those of the Scandinavian race.

Habitat

Breeds in mountain meadows. Winters on coasts, estuaries and water margins.

Migration

Many winter in areas close to their breeding grounds but at much lower altitudes. Others migrate considerable distances, mostly to coastal areas from Germany to Morocco or scattered throughout the Mediterranean. Those which migrate to areas bordering the North Sea are unusual in that their wintering grounds are north of their breeding sites.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Water Pipit is classed as Local: generally fairly regular or common species that a 'county lister' or a birding beginner might be interested in going to see. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Bareges, Midi-Pyrénées, France 04/07/2010	Undisclosed, Macedonia (Republic of) 05/06/2010	Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk 04/04/2010	Uttoxeter, Staffs 04/04/2010	Uttoxeter, Staffs 04/04/2010
Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk 17/03/2010	Arakhiya Farm, Qatar 14/03/2010	Wembury, Devon 12/03/2010	Barns Ness, Lothian 01/03/2010	Barns Ness, Lothian 01/03/2010

 View all pictures of Water Pipit

Water Pipit breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Italy
Lichtenstein
Macedonia
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine

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	Finding Water Pipits on the Ribble Estuary, Lancashire	Tuesday 12th November 2002
	Local birders Stephen Dunstan and Paul Ellis provide helpful hints and tips on how to maximise your chances of seeing elusive Water Pipits on the marshes at Warton Bank.

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