photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Gary Martin | all galleries >> Galleries >> British birds > Rock pipit
previous | next
09-OCT-2006 G Martin

Rock pipit

Port Eynon

Anthus petrosus
The rock pipit is a large stocky pipit, larger than a meadow pipit and smaller than a starling. It is streaky olive-brown above and dirty white underneath with dark streaking. It breeds around the coast where there are rocky beaches, and most of the birds that breed in the UK are residents, with only the young birds dispersing once they become independent. Some birds arrive here from Norway to spend the winter.


other sizes: small medium original auto
comment | share
Gillian 05-Sep-2015 18:42
Just spotted about 10 of these on the shore at Milford Haven and photographed from a distance. Thankfully saw this site and was able to identify them.
Sheila 25-Feb-2009 13:45
24/02/09 This is what I saw on the shore below Caernarfon Castle yesterday, though I was most struck by the stronger yellow breast with its dark streaks, no doubt a seasonal feature since he was frisking with a modest mate. Thanks for this help with identification, confirmed by the British Museum CD vol 2 of Passerines.
dorothy beattie 18-Jan-2009 11:28
I have seen over the last 2/3 days a bird in my garden I couldn't recognise. It is about the size of a big thrush, mainly white with brownish flecks. Can you tell me what it might be?

thank you