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European Rock Pipit
(Anthus petrosus)
German name(s): "Strandpieper"
Size: 16.5-17 cm
Weight: 18-32.5 g
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
European Rock Pipits are a small member of the genus Anthus. Their
plumage is highly
cryptic.
When the plumage
is fresh, the cap and mantle are grey, with fine dark-grey
streaks. The supercilia are light-grey. The front is creamy,
with heavy olive-brown streaks, mostly on the chest, but also
on the sides. The streaks on the sides are more bolder than
down the middle of the front. As the
plumage wears,
the head turns olive-brown as well. The wing feathers are
olive-brown to dark-grey as well, with creamy edges.
The eyes have dark irises. The slender, straight bill is
dark-grey in summer, while in winter the lower mandible has
an horn-coloured base. The legs and feet are dark-grey.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See European
Rock Pipit at Wikipedia .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Eurasian Rock Pipit is available
HERE
.
Eurasian Rock Pipits are a partly sedentary, partly migratory
species, of which there are 3 recognized extant races.
They are found only in coastal areas, and their overall
range extends from the
coastline of north-western Africa, via the western European
Atlantic coastline (with winter quarters otherwise only found
on the Cote d'Azur), to the coastlines of Scandinavia (both
Atlantic Ocean and Baltic Sea), the British Isles and
Ireland, plus Iceland.
In north-western Africa they only overwinter, while their
breeding range is confined to Europe.
In Europe, European Rock Pipits, nominate race
"petrosus",
are permanent residents only in Bretagne and Normandy,
much of the coastlines of the British Isles and all of
Ireland, and in parts of Denmark and southern Norway.
Everywhere else (races "littoralis" and "kleinschmidti")
they are migratory.
During the summer their breeding range is expanded along
the coastlines of Scandinavia (race "littoralis"), while
along the southern Baltic Sea they are only found in transit.
Race "kleinschmidti" is resident on Shetland, Orkney, Fair
Isle and St. Kilda.
In the summer they extend their breeding range also to the
Faroe Islands.
From Iberia via much of the French, Belgian, Dutch and
German Atlantic/North Sea coastline the migratory populations
are winter visitors.
European Rock Pipits have a preference for rocky coastlines
and islands.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "petrosus"(?)
G. Normand reports finding an European
Rock Pipit, nominate race
petrosus"(?),
near both Quimper and Vannes, Bretagne, France, in August 2020.
All sighting and photographic information presented on this
page has kindly been contributed by G. Normand.
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Photos |
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Race "petrosus"(?)
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ADULT |
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NON-BREEDING |
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Frontal view of an European Rock Pipit in its favourite habitat
(photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Near Vannes, Bretagne, France, August 2020]
Near-frontal view of an European Rock Pipit
(photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Near Quimper, Bretagne, France, August 2020]
Lateral view of an European Rock Pipit
(photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Near Quimper, Bretagne, France, August 2020]
Lateral view of an European Rock Pipit in its favourite habitat
(photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Near Vannes, Bretagne, France, August 2020]
Near-dorsal view of an European Rock Pipit
(photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Near Quimper, Bretagne, France, August 2020]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.