Rock pipits (Anthus petrosus) are small, brown birds that can be found foraging for insects on the ground or perching in trees, especially when singing.
Learn how to identify this little bird and where to spot it in our expert guide.
What does a rock pipit look like?
Remember that pipits are small songbirds that walk, rather than hop, on the ground in open areas.
Of the pipits, this one has the darkest brown plumage, especially on the back, and it’s important to note the streaks on the breast.
These are broader and more smudged than those of other pipits, as if drawn by a B pencil as opposed to the other pipits’ HB. Also, note that the legs are very dark red, often looking almost black, whereas other pipits other than water pipit have pink legs.
Another good feature is that there is hardly any pale stripe over the eye, and finally, the outer tail feathers are pale buffy brown (white in all others).
What do rock pipits eat?
Breeding on rugged rocky coasts and cliffs, the rock pipit has an unusual diet, in some ways more like that of a shorebird than a songbird.
For instance, it eats many molluscs, even periwinkles, as well as worms, crustaceans and even small fish, and is quite content to wade in salt water.
Rock pipit habitat and distribution
This bird can be seen all year round. Not all birds are well named, but this is a good one. It really does prefer rocky coasts and, if you want to see one, a rocky, shingly beach is often a good place, at any time of year.
It often feeds among seaweed along the strand line, where its relatively dark plumage offers good camouflage.
What does the rock pipit call sound like?
Meanwhile, the call is a loud “sseep” – rather like a meadow pipit’s call with an s at the beginning. It also has the usual pipit song, repeated notes in long series which often accelerate, like a squeaky bicycle going faster down a slope.
Where do rock pipits’ nest?
Although a breeding bird of the rocks, in winter it expands into flatter and more featureless coastlines, and may even be found on the edges of large bodies of water.
What’s the rock pipit population?
36,000 pairs.
What’s their conservation status?
Stable.
Want to find out more about our feathered friends?
Check out our expert guides to tree pipits, garden birds, robins, blackbirds, tit species and British finches, as well as how to make a log bird feeder.
