Meadow Pipit

Anthus pratensis

Locally common resident with 1-7 million breeding pairs in Britain plus 1-7 million birds in Ireland.

Also breeds across mainland Europe.

Winters in North Africa.

Adults are indistinguishable-looking species on the ground, mainly brown above and buff below, with darker barring on most of its plumage; the tail is brown, with narrow white lateral edges.

It has a thin bill and pale pinkish yellow legs; the rear claw is conspicuously long, longer than the rest of the rear toes.

The call is a faint tsi-tsi.

The simple repetitive song is given in a short song flight.

Juveniles are similar to Adults, but duller.