A Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) is a common resident in the UK, frequently found in open grasslands, heathlands, and moorlands across the country.
Learn how to identify this small, streaky bird, discover its distinctive song, and explore the habitats where it thrives with our expert bird guide.
What does a meadow pipit look like?
The pipits are small, streaky-brown birds without any exciting colour, which certainly doesn’t help their PR, and they are difficult to identify, which makes it worse.
So here’s a starter for pipit ID: If you see a bird in open country which looks rather like a miniature thrush, you’re on the right lines. Pipits have streaky breasts and fairly plain upperparts but are smaller than sparrows.
What's the difference between meadow pipit and a wagtail?
In common with wagtails, they walk on the ground to feed, but unlike wagtails, they have a somewhat gormless, detached way of feeding, as if they are window-shopping.
Meadow pipit habitat and distribution
These little birds are very common and can be seen all year round.
What do meadow pipits eat?
They eat insects and small seeds, which is hardly earth-shattering – their thin bills are typical of those birds that forage for insects.
If you flush them, they go “sip-sip,” hence the name. Meadow pipits have an endearing habit, after being disturbed, of never quite deciding where to land again, meaning that they sometimes fly this way and that, in a state of chronic indecision.
What does the meadow pipit call sound like?
The meadow pipit might be a little underwhelming to look at, but it does have an excellent party trick, as do all pipits. It has a great song flight.
It launches into the air from the ground or a post, sings its (not very good) song, reaches a height (maybe 10m maximum) and then glides down, wings static, tail up, making it look like a feathered version of a paper aeroplane.
The song is a series of swip-swip-swip notes that rise and fall in pitch, and get faster.
Where do meadow pipits nest?
The bird makes a cup nest on the ground, often among grass or heather.
What's the meadow pipit population?
2.5 million pairs.
What's their conservation status?
Amber List of Conservation Concern. Moderate decline.
Want to find out more about our feathered friends?
Check out our expert guides to tree pipits and rock pipits, garden birds, robins, blackbirds, tit species and British finches, as well as how to make a log bird feeder.
