In a previous Pipit thread Jason wrote:
"Go first for the flank streaks. Bold streaks all the way down the side of the flanks = Meadow Pipit. On Tree Pipit the flank streaks are very thin and faint - the heavy streaking effectively seems to stop at the breast sides. This seems reliable for at least 99% of birds".
When I read that, I would think the bird is a Meadow Pipit?
However, most of you seem to favour Tree Pipit, mainly because of the bill. But when I look in the Mullarney, the italics (main features) for distinguishing a Mipit from a Tripit are the slightly heavier bill (OK here), more contrast between the warmbeige breast and the white belly (not OK here) and more contrast between the heavy streaking on the breast and the thin streaking on the flanks (not OK here). Although ID guides exaggerate the differences a little bit for the sake of clearness, the flank streaks for a Tripit are MUCH thinner in the book than on my bird.
So, looking at the main features only, this is a Tree Pipit with an unusual plain breast-belly and unusual heavy flank streaking, or this is a Meadow Pipit with an unusual heavy bill. Are there many Tripits with heavy streaking, or are there many Mipits with heavy bills?
But then, Jason brought forward some additional points. Hmmmm......
Peter
P.S. By the way, how do you insert "real" quotes"?
