Darrell Clegg
Well-known member
I was leading a walk at Hannafore, West Looe on Saturday. The weather was fine but windy, as a consequence there was very little to see and so we spent some time watching the Rock Pipits and Turnstones foraging amongst the seaweed. I was pleased to find two Scandinavian Rock Pipits almost in summer plumage, with grey backs, white supercilium and eye ring, and gorgeous peach breast. These were the first definite birds I had seen for many years, though I suspect that some of our wintering Rock Pipits are in fact Scandinavian Rock Pipits
My query is does anyone know why they are lumped with Rock Pipit and not given specific species status? Having watched these birds for about an hour and taken lots of video they seem to be nearer in structure to Water Pipit. In winter they look like Rock Pipit, but in summer they look like Water Pipit. I know that Rock and Water Pipit were lumped as a single species until about 15 years ago and wonder whether the taxonomists ought to have another look at this little group.
Darrell
My query is does anyone know why they are lumped with Rock Pipit and not given specific species status? Having watched these birds for about an hour and taken lots of video they seem to be nearer in structure to Water Pipit. In winter they look like Rock Pipit, but in summer they look like Water Pipit. I know that Rock and Water Pipit were lumped as a single species until about 15 years ago and wonder whether the taxonomists ought to have another look at this little group.
Darrell