Birds and wildlife
Rock Pipit
Anthus petrosusGroup: pipits and wagtailsUK Conservation status:Green1 / 3
How to identify
The Rock Pipit is a large stocky pipit, bigger than a Meadow Pipit and smaller than a Starling. It's streaky olive-brown on top and dirty white underneath, with dark streaking. It breeds around the coast where there are rocky beaches. Most of the birds which 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.Call
Rock Pipit
Herman van Oosten / xeno-canto
Key
- Resident
- Passage
- Summer
- Winter
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Key facts
- Beak Yellow, Black
- Conservation statusNot assessed
- Diet Insects, beetles, small fish, small shellfish and seeds.
- Feather Cream/Buff, Brown, Grey, White
- Leg Brown
- Length 16.5cm
- Habitats Marine and Intertidal, Wetland
- UK breeding birds 34,000 pairs
- Weight 20-30g
- Wingspan 23-28cm