Wagtails and pipits · Perching birds
Meadow Pipit
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Anthus pratensis
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Voice
Song
Call
Call
How to recognize it
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14.5–15 cm long
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Brown above, buff below, with dark streaks
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Feeds on the ground, usually in open areas
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Faint call, "tsee-tsee"
About the species
On the ground, the Meadow Pipit is brown above and buff below, with dark streaks across its breast and flanks. Its thin bill and pale pinkish-yellow legs add a little contrast, while narrow white edges show along the brown tail as it moves. The rear claw is unusually long, though it may take a close look to notice.
It searches for food on the ground, then may perch on a shrub, fence or wire to watch for danger. A faint "tsi-tsi" call can be easy to miss; in a brief song flight, its high, thin notes speed up towards the end.
Look for it in open grassland, moor and heath, including damp meadows and lightly farmed country; in winter it also uses saltmarshes. It eats small insects and other invertebrates, with seeds and berries becoming more important in winter. Most populations move south for the season, while some in western Europe stay year-round.
Where to find
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On wet meadows, pastures and marshy ground, look for a Meadow Pipit feeding on the ground.
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During southward migration, scan fields and watersides for large flocks.
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On open grassland, check shrubs, fence lines and wires for lookout perches used to watch for predators.
