Meadow Pipit

Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)

The Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis ) is a species of bird in the family of Wagtail.

Description

The Meadow Pipit is slightly smaller than the very similar Baumpieper with almost 15 centimeters. Compared with him, he is a total gray in color, striped chest less yellowish and more tender. The legs are reddish, and the beak is thin and pointed.

The call of the meadow pipit is a sharp "is" or " ististist ", in the vicinity of the nest often persistent and monotonous " tlitlitli ". His singing, which he presents in short flights Sing is tall and thin. It begins before the start of Singflug to sing, then usually rises from a ground survey on and returns when sliding down a rule not to the starting point.

Ecology

Nutrition

Meadow Pipit feed during the summer months mainly on small diurnal insects and arachnids of all kinds, in the winter months in addition of small snails and seeds.

Habitat

The Meadow Pipit is a widespread and sometimes even common bird of the genus of Pieper. He is to be distinguished from the Tree Pipit birding rather due to the habitat and the voice as with optical features. The Meadow Pipit is a breeding bird on moist meadows and pastures, in moors, even in the mountains. During the turn to the south you can see him often in larger troops on fields and pond edges. It is found in most regions of the northern half of Europe and Asia. He hibernates usually in southern Europe, northern Africa and in South Asia. He is, however, a state bird in Ireland, the UK and in the coastal regions of Western Europe.

Breeding biology

The nest is on the ground. It is an unassuming building from stalks and moss and is padded with hair. The female broods usually 13 days four to six pale gray eggs. The young birds are then fed by both parents 12 to 14 days. Meadow Pipit, host of the cuckoo bird.