Rock Pipit

Anthus petrosus

Locally common resident with 50,000 breeding pairs on the rocky coasts of Britain & Ireland.

Also breeds in North West Europe.

Winters in Britain, Ireland & Morocco.

The sexes are alike; although males average slightly brighter than females, the overlap is complete and birds cannot be sexed on appearance or measurements.

Juveniles resemble the Adults, although they may sometimes be browner and more streaked above, looking superficially similar to Meadow Pipits.

The song is a sequence of about twenty tinkling cheepa notes followed by a rising series of thin gee calls, and finishing with a short trill.

The shrill pseep flight call is intermediate between the soft sip sip sip.