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Help with i.d. (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter AnnieW
- Start date
Jane Turner
Well-known member
I always trust sound when it comes to Pipits. What did it call like? Its hard to tell from a pic like this, but you could make a decent case for Tripit on plumage but the bill looks a little weedy
Jane - I'd originally thought Tripit as the head markings were quite pronounced with quite an obvious eye-stripe (that doesn't really show up too well in the photo) and the breast streaking didn't extend down to the lower breast. The underparts were predominantly a dullish grey. It was also moving from tree to tree (which I didn't think the Mippit generally did) with only very brief forays into the open.Jane Turner said:
However, the flight call was more like the mippit's `seep-seep-seep - tseut' but without the final trill. The parachuting descent was very pronounced, with the head thrown back a long way. At one point there were 2 of them engaged in an aerial parachuting ballet - but the 2nd didn't settle & disappeared before I could get a decent look at it !!
Jane Turner
Well-known member
AnnieW said:
Then that sort of settles it Annie. Mipits will go arboreal, often when then are singing. Bright male Mipit!
Ok - thanks for that Jane. All the descriptions of Mipit behaviour I could lay my hands on yesterday, seemed to suggest that they only rarely ventuerd in to trees. I've just listened to a couple of Mipit recordings; the song was definatley Mipitish - but as I said without the disctinctive end trill. Mipit with laryngitisJane Turner said:
What about the eye stripe ? I know Mipit's can show a fair old range of plumage variations - but I always thought the eye stripe was a dead cert. for Tripit :h?:
Pipits confuse me - should be banned from appearing near novices !!
I'll be heading out to walk the dog shortly, in the same area as I saw this chap yesterday. It's a much brighter day, so I'll keep my eyes open for him & see if I can get a better look (& perhaps shot).
Jane Turner
Well-known member
I find most plumage features in the Mipit/tripit pair to be inconclusive in many cases. Mipits can have huge supers.. hang on I'll find one! The breast streaking, notably the change in streak shape is a fairly reliable feature, but in the end bill shape and call are by far the most reliable.
Jane Turner
Well-known member
OK - two Mipits upper and two Tree Pipits lower culled from the gallery. A Mipit in a tree and one with a huge super to be confusing then two pretty dull Tree Pipits. However look how the flank streaking of the Tree Pipits becomes very thin, they have stouter bills and look to have longer wing to tail ratios.....
Nothing beats them going tszzzzzzzzzz as opposed to sip sip sip though as an id character!
Nothing beats them going tszzzzzzzzzz as opposed to sip sip sip though as an id character!
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Hi Jane,
I remember those pics!While I STILL haven't managed Tree Pipit here,and have not now seen one anywhere since Sep.99,I agree that the bill seems to be a constant feature,and that even those Meadows with finer flank streaking(have 'ticked' Tree in the past due to such birds on a headland,but have long since unticked them) don't show such an abrupt change in thickness.
Harry
I remember those pics!While I STILL haven't managed Tree Pipit here,and have not now seen one anywhere since Sep.99,I agree that the bill seems to be a constant feature,and that even those Meadows with finer flank streaking(have 'ticked' Tree in the past due to such birds on a headland,but have long since unticked them) don't show such an abrupt change in thickness.
Harry
Well, that's as a clear as mud nowJane Turner said:
Seriously, thanks for providing the comparison. Looking at the other photos of my bird, the overall general shape, particularly the bill bears more similarity to the top right Mipit. They really shouldn't be allowed to confuse people by sitting in trees !!
I was up in the same area this morning but no pipits - 'tis always the way. There was, however, a rather impressive aerial display by 5 buzzards over the hill & 5 swallows as compensation.
