This workshop is going to look at three very similar
ground-dwelling, streaky, brown birds.
Meadow Pipit and Tree Pipit can be very challenging to separate
especially if seen out of context.
But first we have to make sure that we are not looking at a Skylark.
All three of these species can be found in uplands, moorland, heathland and forestry.
Skylark is largish stocky songbird almost approaching redwing in size
Found year round, it is most often thought of as a farmland bird
particularly in the South and East.
But as well as this, and the previously mentioned habitat
Skylarks can also be found in grassland, coastal habitats
and, perhaps surprisingly, in recently fell or replanted woodland.
Numbers are high, with some 1.4 million territories
and the species is found throughout the UK and Ireland.
Skylark should be very easy to separate from the two Pipits.
If seen well, the small crest on the head is obvious.
And, when flushed, Skylarks often flutter, low, before dropping back to the ground.
Their wings are quite long but noticeably broad, and have a white trailing edge.
The outer tail feathers are also white although these can be less obvious.
The familiar song of Skylark is an unceasing outpouring
seemingly delivered without breath.
and sometimes lasting for 10 minutes or even more.
This is almost, invariably, delivered from high above.
with the bird, more often than not, invisible.
If you can see it, the bird will be holding stationary above its territory
and singing its song from this lofty location.
We will be returning to look at Skylark in detail, in a future workshop.
when we will consider it alongside its rare cousin, the Woodlark.
For now, however, we will concentrate on telling the two Pipits apart.
Both Pipits have a similar body size to House Sparrow, but are much more slender.
Indeed both can have a similar size and shape to a Pied Wagtail, but with a shorter tail.
Being slim, horizontal, and with mobile tails Pipits can give a Wagtail-like appearance.
Meadow Pipit is by far the most common of the two species.
In fact it is one of the most widespread and ubiquitous of all UK species
with some 1.9 million territories and found in a wide range of habitats.
In summer it is probably the commonest species on heaths, moors and upland areas.
It is also found in any open habitats
although on much lower density on lowland and farmland.
In winter and in passage, however, Meadow Pipits become much more common on farmland
and desert the very high ground.
Due to how widespread and common Meadow Pipit is
it should be considered the default Pipit and all others compared to it.
Brown above and streaked white below, they are the epitome of a little brown bird.
The overall brown tone however can vary dramatically
across the year and between individuals
with some birds appearing greyish, others brown,
and others strikingly olive green above.
The undersides are buffish white with the colour strongest on the flanks
and the streaks are heavy.
The bill is narrow, a typical insect eating bird’s beak
and the pink legs long, although be aware Meadow Pipit often crouches in a nervous way.
The birds flick their tails nervously too.
Meadow Pipits are the favourite food of many predators
and the birds always give me the impression that they know this.
Almost invariably found on the ground or low down, and very rarely sitting in trees
Meadow Pipit can occasionally be found perched on posts or fences
from where they will sometimes sing.
The song, along with Skylark, is one of the characteristic sounds of open areas.
The full song is delivered in a song flight
invariably starting on the ground and returning to the ground.
It starts as a series of short “seep seep seep” calls
rising in pitch, speed and urgency.
This simple starting pattern can be delivered incessantly from the ground or low perch
but the full song is only heard during the song flight
when the bird starts rising into the air as it reaches the apex of the flight
the note suddenly becomes more fluty, buzzy, and complex
as the bird balloons back down, with wings stretched, and tail up.
One phrase that is often hear during this descent is “tchu tchu tchu tchu”.
The flight call as a slower version of the sharp “seep seep seep” part of the song
uttered by birds flying over
often alerting you to their presence, especially on passage, and when flushed.
It may help to remember by thinking that the birds are trying
to shout out their name as you flush them “mip mip mip”, as they rise.
Tree Pipit is a much scarcer bird
and a summer migrant arriving in April and leaving by October.
It is found in much of the UK with a very northwestern bias
with outposts in the southern East and in the forest of East Anglia.
The species is not found in Ireland and only some 88,000 pairs nest
The species is almost always associated with trees, as its name suggests
although it avoids mature woodlands
preferring scattered trees and young trees and scrub.
When seen, familiarity with Meadow Pipit really does help.
Tree Pipit is is ever so slightly bigger than Meadow Pipit
marginally stoutier and stockier with a heavier bill.
Although sharing the brown above pale below colouring
Tree Pipit always tends towards more olive green.
The flank streaks are much finer than the breast streaks
and the undersides are a much cleaner white with a creamy breast.
The whole bird is more crisply marked in fact
and does often display a noticeable pale spot over the ear.
On the ground, where they feed, Tree Pipits appear more confident
with smooth bold walking action, not at all jerky like Meadow Pipit
and it pumps its tail rhythmically, rather than flicking it nervously.
Tree Pipits do spend much time in trees
and can often be encountered singing from the very tops.
The song is much richer than that of Meadow Pipit.
Often it starts with a series of “chip chip chip” notes
followed by a varied range of buzzy, clear and loud repeated notes.
sometimes with a surprising chaffinch-like phrase.
Tree Pipits also sing a song flight which may start from the ground or from a tree
but which invariably returns to a tree or high perch
although very rarely the ones where the song started in.
In the same way as Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipits balloon back down
but usually they have their legs dangling.
In the descending phase of the flight
a characteristic “seeew seeew seeew” phrase is often heard.
The call is quite different to Meadow Pipit A drawn-out buzzy “spleez”
which once learnt it can be picked out as the birds migrate overhead.