Pipit behaviour.Meadow or tree? (1 Viewer)

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sooseee

Well-known member

• Jun 19, 2006

• #1

Keep thinking I've sorted out the difference! Confused by someone who told me meadow pipits had orangey legs, then checked and a field guide said tree pipts had pinkish legs and meadows were brown.So have been watching (on gorsey heath land with small shrubby trees) what I thought were meadow pipits soaring with a 'sree, sree sree' sort of noise, then with song increasing in tempo, a downward rapid , almost 'dive bomb' flight to the ground.Very confused!

 

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Mike Johnston

Well-known member

• Jun 19, 2006

• #2

Wouldn't rely too much on leg colour - both pinkish. Song flight can be a good indicator. Tree often dangles legs toward the end of its descent, Meadow doesn't. Tree most often lands in a tree at the end, Meadow usually on the ground or a low fence, post, bush, etc. Not failsafe but can help.

 

Andrew Rowlands

Well-known member

• Jun 19, 2006

• #3

That song sounds good for Tree Pipit, sooseee - you ought to go back and spend more time studying them, it'll payoff in the long term

Cheers,

Andy.

 

London Birder

Well-known member

• Jun 19, 2006

• #4

I'd recommend listening to recordings of Tree v Meadow song sooseee ..

 

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sooseee

Well-known member

• Jun 19, 2006

• #5

Thanks, Mike, Andrew and Des.All great advice-first to try is listening to song recording will check resources here and then British Museum sound archive.Sue

 

Last edited: Jun 19, 2006

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dan pointon

Can't Stop

• Jun 19, 2006

• #6

Hi SooSeee,

Here's links to the calls of both Meadow and Tree Pipits, hope they clinch the ID for you.

Tree Pipit: http://www.scricciolo.com/eurosongs/Anthus.trivialis.wav

Meadow Pipit: http://www.scricciolo.com/eurosongs/Anthus.pratensis.wav

I find song most useful with singing pipits, though if you just search through BF, you'll find numerous threads regarding this topic which should give you more than enough info.

Cheers