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Tree Pipit
(Anthus trivialis)
German name(s): "Baumpieper"
Size: 15 cm; wing span 25-27 cm
Weight: 12-29 g
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
Tree Pipits are a small member of the genus Anthus. Their
plumage is highly
cryptic.
The front is light-buff to grey, with brown streaks, mostly on the
chest, but also on the sides. The streaks on the sides are thinner
than those on the front. The belly, vent and undertail
coverts are light-buff. The lores, eyebrows and eye-rings
are also light-buff. The crown and the back, including the tail,
are mostly greyish-brown, with darker streaking in particular on the
mantle and with dark brownish-grey flight feathers with lighter-brown
edge lining, which is most prominent on the upperwing coverts.
The eyes have dark-brown irises. The slender bill has an upper
mandible that is near-black and much darker than the lower,
horn- to flesh-coloured one. The legs and feet are pale orange-brown.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Tree
Pipit at Wikipedia
(Baumpieper
bei 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 Tree Pipit is available
HERE
.
There are 2 races of Tree Pipits, namely nominate race
"trivialis", and race "haringtoni", both of which are
long-distance migrants.
Race
"trivialis" is by far the most wide-spread, breeding
from much of Europe into mid-latitude western and central Asia.
They can also be found around the coastline of the Black Sea,
along the Caucasus and along the southern coastal fringe of
the Caspian Sea.
The European and parts of the western Asian populations winter
in sub-Saharan Africa and much of eastern Africa (except the
eastern coastal fringe).
On passage, Tree Pipits, race
"trivialis", can also be found using the flight path
across the eastern fringe of the Arabian peninsula, through Oman
and Yemen. Some Tree Pipits stay and spend the winters in eastern
Arabia.
Race "haringtoni" is found as a breeding migrant only in two areas
in southern central Asia. They, and the eastern Asian population
of race
"trivialis" winter in northern and central India.
For details see Wikipedia .
In Europe Tree Pipits of nominate race "trivialis"
are found as breeding migrants.
They are present over much of the continent, from northern
Spain, Britain (but not Ireland/Northern Ireland), France,
the Benelux countries, Germany and Denmark eastwards into
Asia. Areas where they are not found are Spain, except the
far North, the Cote Azure, lowland Italy, lowland south-eastern
Europe and much of Greece. They are also absent from the
Mediterranean islands.
Tree Pipits have a preference for open country with scattered
shrubs and trees. However, they do not stay in areas where
grass is too short.
On passage they use commercial crops more than during the
rest of the year.
Outside the breeding season they have a preference for open
country, including commercial crops, with scattered trees,
including acacia shubs in savannah, or the edges of open woodland.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "trivialis"
J. Pires reports finding a Tree Pipit, race
"trivialis",
in Mora, Evora, Portugal, in February and May 2014, and another
at the Minutos Dam, near Montemor o Novo, Evora, Portugal, in
December 2019.
D. Wilczynska reports spotting a Tree Pipit, race
"trivialis",
near Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, in the timeframe August
to September 2016.
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Photos |
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Race "trivialis"
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ADULT |
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Frontal view of a Meadow Pipit in worn
plumage;
note the strong supercilium and the pink base of the lower
mandible of the bill
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2014]
Near-frontal view of a Tree Pipit
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2014]
Near-frontal view of a Tree Pipit, showing clearly the streaked
cap (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, September 2016]
Lateral view of a Tree Pipit
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2014]
Lateral view of a Tree Pipit (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, September 2016]
Near-dorsal/ventral view of a Tree Pipit
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, August 2016]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
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Dorsal view of a juvenile Tree Pipit; note the rather short
horn-coloured bill
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Minutos Dam, near Montemor o Novo, Evora, Portugal, December 2019]
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Breeding information |
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Breeding season: Apr - Aug |
Eggs: 4 - 6 |
Incubation period: 12 - 14 days |
Fledging age: 12 - 14 days |
Tree Pipits, although highly migratory and with limited time in their
breeding grounds, usually have 2 broods per season. Accordingly, the
chicks develop very quickly, often leaving the nest before having
flight. The length of the breeding season depends on geographic
latitude and is longer in the southern parts of the range than at
the northern end. There can be anything from 2 to 8 eggs per clutch.
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Nest |
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Type: Basket |
Material: Dry grass, reeds |
Height above ground: N/A |
Nest building: ? |
Incubation: Female |
Dependent care: Female & male |
Tree Pipit collecting nest material
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2020]
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Eggs |
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Size: 20 x 15 mm |
Colour: Grey, with
dark grey-brown speckles |
Shape: Tapered oval |
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.