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Tree Pipit OR Meadow Pipit - Isle of Wight, England (6 Viewers)

Thanks for the discussion about the two pipits. And by the way which features can also clinch the ID as a Tree Pipit (apart from the streaks and the walk), as some Meadow Pipits also have a quite distinct supercilium like this one, this, this and this and/or a white, broad sub moustachial stripe. According to Collins Guide the dark eyestripe/lores in the Tree Pipit cannot be a very reliable feature, because the differences are often very little and difficult to see. I used to think that the streaks are the most reliable feature.

Thanks for the answers in advance.
 
Thank you again for all the addition input and responses - this has helped me enormously. I know Tree Pipits are passing through at the moment and when calling, I can identify the call. Unfortunately - with this specific bird of this morning - no call was made - hence requiring confirmation.
 
Thanks for the discussion about the two pipits. And by the way which features can also clinch the ID as a Tree Pipit (apart from the streaks and the walk), as some Meadow Pipits also have a quite distinct supercilium like this one, this, this and this and/or a white, broad sub moustachial stripe. According to Collins Guide the dark eyestripe/lores in the Tree Pipit cannot be a very reliable feature, because the differences are often very little and difficult to see. I used to think that the streaks are the most reliable feature.

Thanks for the answers in advance.
For your first bird: yes, it has a pronounced supercilium, but the submoustachial stripe is very narrow (even for a meadow pipit), the base of the bill is yellow and narrow, and most importantly, it has an unbroken white eye-ring. Obviously when you're blessed with unobstructed views of the hind-claw you shouldn't ignore it.

The second bird is harder, it has some pro-Tree Pipit features such as a distinct supercilium and to a lesser extent submoustachial stripe, however, it has a very typical Meadow Pipit bill (yellow base and narrow). The lores are pale, the eye ring is unbroken. You also by no means should ignore flank streaking, apologies if that was how my messages came across, it is undoubtedly a useful feature. However, over-reliance on the feature can lead to misidentification. The hind-toe is also visible in this photo.

The white, unbroken eye ring is striking in the third bird, also note the yellow base to the bill, narrow submoustachial stripe. Yes the lores are dark, however, balanced with very blotchy flank streaking and, of course, the long hind-toe, it's clearly a Meadow Pipit. Another feature that's very useful is that there is no contrast between the white belly and the ground colour to the breast. Tree pipits are often conspicuously white bellied (in comparison to the breast).

The final bird is very typical, note the eye-ring, bill, lores, submoustachial stripe, lack of contrast in belly, blotchy flanks.

Hope this helps :)
 
For your first bird: yes, it has a pronounced supercilium, but the submoustachial stripe is very narrow (even for a meadow pipit), the base of the bill is yellow and narrow, and most importantly, it has an unbroken white eye-ring. Obviously when you're blessed with unobstructed views of the hind-claw you shouldn't ignore it.

The second bird is harder, it has some pro-Tree Pipit features such as a distinct supercilium and to a lesser extent submoustachial stripe, however, it has a very typical Meadow Pipit bill (yellow base and narrow). The lores are pale, the eye ring is unbroken. You also by no means should ignore flank streaking, apologies if that was how my messages came across, it is undoubtedly a useful feature. However, over-reliance on the feature can lead to misidentification. The hind-toe is also visible in this photo.

The white, unbroken eye ring is striking in the third bird, also note the yellow base to the bill, narrow submoustachial stripe. Yes the lores are dark, however, balanced with very blotchy flank streaking and, of course, the long hind-toe, it's clearly a Meadow Pipit. Another feature that's very useful is that there is no contrast between the white belly and the ground colour to the breast. Tree pipits are often conspicuously white bellied (in comparison to the breast).

The final bird is very typical, note the eye-ring, bill, lores, submoustachial stripe, lack of contrast in belly, blotchy flanks.

Hope this helps :)
Many thanks for the analysis of the every photo! I didn't expect the answer to be so helpful! Thank you :)
 
For your first bird: yes, it has a pronounced supercilium, but the submoustachial stripe is very narrow (even for a meadow pipit), the base of the bill is yellow and narrow, and most importantly, it has an unbroken white eye-ring. Obviously when you're blessed with unobstructed views of the hind-claw you shouldn't ignore it.

The second bird is harder, it has some pro-Tree Pipit features such as a distinct supercilium and to a lesser extent submoustachial stripe, however, it has a very typical Meadow Pipit bill (yellow base and narrow). The lores are pale, the eye ring is unbroken. You also by no means should ignore flank streaking, apologies if that was how my messages came across, it is undoubtedly a useful feature. However, over-reliance on the feature can lead to misidentification. The hind-toe is also visible in this photo.

The white, unbroken eye ring is striking in the third bird, also note the yellow base to the bill, narrow submoustachial stripe. Yes the lores are dark, however, balanced with very blotchy flank streaking and, of course, the long hind-toe, it's clearly a Meadow Pipit. Another feature that's very useful is that there is no contrast between the white belly and the ground colour to the breast. Tree pipits are often conspicuously white bellied (in comparison to the breast).

The final bird is very typical, note the eye-ring, bill, lores, submoustachial stripe, lack of contrast in belly, blotchy flanks.

Hope this helps :)
I wonder which "second bird" you are talking about. As far as I can see, there's two photos on a single individual in the first post.
 
I must say that the OP has darker streaks overall (I know we can't see the flank streaking clearly) than any Tree Pipit I have seen. Here in Ireland TP is pretty scarce and if I saw a bird like the OP here I'd call it as MP pretty quickly. Maybe I need to rethink.
 
I must say that the OP has darker streaks overall (I know we can't see the flank streaking clearly) than any Tree Pipit I have seen. Here in Ireland TP is pretty scarce and if I saw a bird like the OP here I'd call it as MP pretty quickly. Maybe I need to rethink.
What matters is that the flank streaks are clearly thinner than the breast ones, which we can easily see on the OP bird.
 
Can I add another candidate into the discussion - this was taken on the salt marsh at Southport beach on May 31st. Meadow for me but I could be persuaded otherwise. Unfortunately I didn't catch the call or a view of the hind claws.

329A3FCA-B346-48C7-BB0A-758B685EED62_1_105_c.jpeg
 

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