About the Water Pipit
The water pipit is a small passerine bird which breeds in the mountains of Southern Europe and the Palearctic eastwards to China. It is a short-distance migrant; many birds move to lower altitudes or wet open lowlands in winter.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The water pipit is 15–17 centimetres (5.9–6.7 in) long and weighs 18.7–23 grams (0.66–0.81 oz). The adult of the nominate race in spring plumage has greyish-brown upperparts, weakly streaked with darker brown, and pale pink-buff underparts fading to whitish on the lower belly. There may be some faint streaking on the breast and flanks. The head is grey with a broad white supercilium. The outer tail feathers are white, and the legs, bill and iris are dark brown or blackish. In non-breeding plumage, the head is grey-brown and the supercilium is less distinct. Voice: The water pipit's song is delivered from a perch or in flight, and consists of four or five blocks, each consisting of about half a dozen repetitions of a different short note. In comparison, the European rock pipit's song is a sequence of about twenty tinkling cheepa notes followed by a rising series of thin gee calls, and finishing with a short trill.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Water Pipit sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, Moldova, Libya, Bangladesh, Guernsey.
When to see it
Peak activity in November · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Paddyfield PipitAnthus rufulusThis is a large pipit at 15 cm, but is otherwise an undistinguished looking bird, mainly streaked grey-brown above and pale below with breast streaking.
African PipitAnthus cinnamomeusThe African pipit is 15 to 17 cm (5.9 to 6.7 in) long and is a slender bird with an erect stance.
European Rock PipitAnthus petrosusThe European rock pipit is 16.5–17 centimetres (6.5–6.7 in) long and weighs 18–32.5 grams (0.63–1.15 oz).
Side by side: American Pipit vs Water Pipit · Tree Pipit vs Water Pipit · European Rock Pipit vs Water Pipit · Paddyfield Pipit vs Water Pipit · African Pipit vs Water Pipit
Learn the Water Pipit for real
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