Water pipit

Anthus spinoletta
Wagtail like (Motacillidae)

CC-BY-SA 2.0 rights : Francesco Veronesi

Brown marked back, pinkish beige belly with marked stripes along the edge, white eyebrow and dark brown legs. In breeding plumage the ♂ has a plain pink breast and belly and a grey cap and neck.

Often seen searching along watercourses or between rocks for insects and bugs. 

⇔ l. 15-17 cm

There are two species, the ANTHUS PETROSUS (Eurasian rock pipit) living on rocky coasts in the west and north Europe and this ANTHUS SPINOLETTA (Water pipit) that lives more in mountainous areas in higher altitudes (over the timberline) where running water can be found, in south and central Europe and Asia. They are treated as separate species by some sources, there are no visible differences.

Partly migratory, in winter it descends to lower areas.

LA:
≈ The ANTHUS PRATENSIS (Meadow pipit) is lighter in colour and has light coloured legs.

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