Tree Pipit
Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis )
The Tree Pipit ( Anthus trivialis ) is a species of bird in the family of Wagtail ( Motacillidae ). The frequent in Central Europe in the summer, but visually unobtrusive bird is observed mainly along forest edges and clearings, since it requires next to a stock of tall trees and shrubs also open, lined with low vegetation areas. It turns out there on mainly by his singing.
The tree pipit is a wide- distance migrant, the West and East Africa wintered in the vegetation zone of high grass savannas.
- 4.1 breeding ground
- 4.2 train and wintering areas
- 5.1 breeding areas
- 5.2 train and wintering areas
- 7.1 The breeding ground
- 7.2 The nest and rearing of young birds
Name
Despite its modest appearance of the tree pipit is striking because it starts sounding of exposed Sing wait from or in Singflug its for the people bright and cheerful acting calls. Accordingly, this species bears popularly a number of different common names. Some, such as tree, wood, herbs, pointed or spear play on the lark lark -like behavior of the tree pipit way. In Austria, the bird is popularly known also Ziepe or Schmelchen. Grienvögelchen or Greinerlein are more old and now uncommon names.
The term tree pipit, which is used in the German language almost universally today, associates the type of correct genus and has similar Pipit Meadow Pipit and indicate the preferred habitat of this bird.
The scientific name of the species " trivialis " ( = common, common ), however, expresses that the tree pipit compared to the other types Pieper is frequent.
Appearance
Height and weight
The tree pipit is about as big as a house sparrow with a body length of an average of 15 centimeters. However, it is more delicate and slimmer than this and works by visually larger. The wing length in male birds averaged just 90 millimeters, in females the wings are about four to five millimeters shorter.
The body weight of the tree pipit is during the breeding season at about 22 to 24 grams. At the beginning of autumn migration the birds are regularly heavier; particularly well-fed birds can then weigh about 30 grams. In tree pipits, located on the return flight from their wintering sites in Africa, one has a weight sporadically already noted by only 16 grams.
Other features
The plumage has no gender differences. The body top is yellow to olive brown with diffuse blackish longitudinal stripes, which are clearly marked on the top of the head. Rump and upper tail-coverts are more greenish in color than the rest of the body top and striped are weak only in some individuals. The body bottom is rahmfarben to yellowish with strong striped chest and goiter pages. A more pronounced yellow color have on throat, breast and sides of the neck. On the flanks of the bands are considerably narrower than on the chest. The outer feathers are partially white. The elytra are bright lined, thereby forming two bright, rahmfarbene wing-bars. The seams formed by the top seams of the middle coverts are most noticeable. The tail extends beyond the wing tips by about 3.5 inches.
There is a brighter, not always clearly to be recognized eye-streak over the eye. The iris is dark brown, the eye ring formed by two rows of springs is rahmfarben. The nostrils are exposed. The top beak and the tip of the lower mandible is black brown. The rest of the lower mandible is brighter toward the root and lower jaw and is yellowish to flesh- colored. The legs are reddish flesh-color, while the feet are yellowish - pink to flesh-colored. The claws are light horn color.
Young birds resemble the adult birds very much. Their plumage is somewhat yellowish, the black-brown longitudinal stripes slightly more pronounced on the body top. Characteristic of the plumage of the young birds is a black-brown mottling of the rump. This is absent in adult birds.
Species specific for the tree pipit is a strongly curved rear claw, which can be from 6.6 to 8.6 millimeters long. It is in length compared with the hind either shorter than or at most equal length. Both larks as well as the other representatives of this hind Pieper, however, is longer and less curved. Only the abundant in the north and east of Asia Forest Pieper has a similar shape and length hind. From the primaries is the sixth one to six millimeters shorter than the seventh to ninth. When Meadow Pipit, however these primaries are of equal length.
Flight and movement way
If Baumpieper are excited or sit on a singing wait that they have a regular, flat tail rocker is observed. On the ground they walk in a crouched posture. Startled Tree Pipit immediately seek cover in shrubs or in the branches of trees.
Similar wagtails - but without the intense tail rocker - looking for the Tree Pipit herbaceous or grassy areas border for food from. The wings are created there and the tail forms with the back line, the legs are so strongly bent in the knee joint that the body bottom is just above the ground. The pricked head and neck nod in rhythm with the tiny steps. His prey he picked from either from the ground or from plants. He sees a more distant prey, accelerated his step sequence, the head is then pushed slightly forward, the bird then acts " crouching ". On the branches of the tree pipit runs mincing steps in the longitudinal direction. He moves preferably from the inside out.
When haul flight to change a series vigorous and rapid wing beats with short gliding phases from. During this sliding phases the wings are applied to the body. However, the altitude loss and speed is so low that the flight is generally not as strong wavy pronounced as that found in the meadow pipit.
Possible confusion with other species of birds
The Meadow Pipit Tree Pipit is the so similar that one flight and must use lifestyle as well as the vocals to identify - in addition to some minor distinguishing characteristics in physique and plumage coloration. The characteristic Artkennzeichen the tree pipit, which are described above, can be pulled up in the open only at very good observing conditions for identification. In contrast to the more delicate the Meadow Pipit Tree Pipit has a powerful beak and a yellowish color of the breast. While Tree Pipit are often seen on tree branches sitting to Meadow Pipit usually hold on to the ground and have a " bouncing ", short flight. The Tree Pipit, however jerkily flies in shallow waves.
The Woodlark, which can be observed in the habitat of the tree pipit and also has a similar plumage coloration of the tree pipit, can be distinguished from the Tree Pipit by their much shorter tail and its more prominent and brighter eyes rahmfarbenen Streifs.
Voice
Song of the Tree Pipit can be heard only in good weather. Then he lets out a soft chirping before sunrise, he's presenting either a low seat waiting or even directly from the ground. In wind, rain or cold spells he keeps silent on in dense undergrowth.
The Singflug the Tree Pipit occurs from early morning until noon, and then again in the late afternoon. It is mainly used for territorial marking, is loud and melodic and will be carried in a characteristic way. Starting point of the singing flight is usually the top of a tree, sometimes the bird but also starts from the ground. The bird sits for a second or two in a crouched posture, encounters with both feet diagonally upwards into the air, rising silently from 10 to 30 feet high, and lets just before the highest point of the flight, a quiet incipient and increasingly louder " ziziziwiswiswis " sound, then often followed by a kanarienähnlicher scooters, and in a six to twelve seconds -long gliding around the bird with stiff wings spread with loud, melodious for the People " zia zia zia zia " either the starting point or another Sing waiting back. Because of the high speed that reaches the Tree Pipit in the downward glide, it controls its landing site not directly. It is aimed at a spot that is located below the control room, and swings with some wing beats her up.
As is often the Singflug is repeated depends on the season, the prevailing weather conditions, from Verpaarungs status of the bird and of the singing activity of the area neighbors. In Central Europe, Sing flights in which the song is carried forward in full, typical of the period from late April to late July. Mated station owner rise sometimes every two to six minutes to the airport singing. Within the basic pattern described above, the singing here is intra-and inter-individually highly variable. Although a single bird holds the initial and final parts of his singing exactly. The length of each song verses, however, is for example determined by the distance of the flight, with individual phrases and vocal elements are combined in a different order. The repertoire of phrases and elements is different depending on the males. Also a distinct dialect formation has been demonstrated for the Tree Pipit: populations of individual regions can be distinguished by the types of elements of the initial and final parts of the song.
The area vocals can be carried forward by a vocal point of view. But in this case it is usually shorter and is played only incomplete. The Tree Pipit still also has a number of different sounds. The metallic -sounding " siiit siiit " is a warning or contact call that is often heard with Rufabständen of half a second. Even the hastily called and rising in pitch "sip -sip -sip " is a cry of alarm that is heard when an enemy approaches the station. " Tsieb " serves primarily as a contact call. In winter quarters are heard only this contact and warning sounds.
Dissemination
Breeding ground
The tree pipit is a breeding bird of the temperate and boreal zones of Eurasia. The eastern limit of distribution is not sufficiently secured and controversial. According to some authors, the distribution area of the tree pipit extends to the southern Verkhoyansk Mountains, part of the East Siberian Uplands. It reaches its northernmost distribution area in Europe about the 70th and in Asia in the 65th degree of north latitude.
To the west, the direction of propagation of the Tree Pipit on Iceland and Ireland, the Shetland, Orkney and the Outer Hebrides missing while he was still found in the UK. To the south extends its range to the north of Spain. In Portugal, as well as central and southern Spain, the tree pipit is missing as well as on most Mediterranean islands and in southern Greece. The northern Turkey, and the mountainous regions of the Caucasus, the North of Iran and the northwest Mongolia belong to the breeding areas of the tree pipit. The southern border is spread very unevenly. In the steppe regions of West and Central Asia, Tree Pipit few as 50 ° north latitude no longer present. In the Central Asian mountain regions of the distribution area to the south extends to the Pamir, and thence in a southwesterly direction to north- west of the Himalayan region. There are also in northwestern India from the rest of circulation area isolated breeding population. Overall, the breeding ground of the Tree Pipit comprises approximately 14 million square kilometers.
Train and wintering areas
The tree pipit is a long-distance migrant, which draws on a broad front in the winter quarters. The exodus begins sporadically in June and is strongest in August and early September. In general, breeding birds remain after completion of the breeding business for some weeks near their Revieres and build at this time fat reserves. The European populations to about the 40th degree of east longitude draw during their migration over the Iberian Peninsula or northern Italy. High mountains will be overflown on this train, where Baumpieper prefer to use nice weather. On the way to their winter quarters the breeding birds of Europe and probably also of the Western Siberia cross usually the Sahara. The winter quarters drag sub-Saharan strip form over the entire African continent, the southern wintering areas in northern South Africa are. They are there to be found particularly in the Transvaal.
Südmauretanien, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, the southwestern Mali, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, the southwest by Niger, and Central and Southern Nigeria are among the wintering grounds in West Africa. In East Africa, the winter quarters draw from southern Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia to the Transvaal and to the south Mozambiques.
The Tree Pipit, their breeding area is located in Asia, on the other hand overwinter in southern Asia, and are then, for example in India and Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Arabian peninsula to watch over the south of Iran to Turkey. Regularly overwinter Tree Pipit of the Asian breeding grounds on the Seychelles. It also Chance comes to wintering populations in the Maldives and in the east of Japan.
The European breeding birds begin withdrawing from their winter starting around February. However, the retreat beginning may shift to early April. In extensive high-pressure zones, the return takes place very rapidly, while cold air zones slow the return significantly. Chance of Tree Pipit in Central Europe are already one can see from the second half of March. However, the main return time is April, with occasional stragglers arrive until the second half of May in their breeding grounds again. The majority of the population arrives usually between five and fifteen days after the first birds, with males more likely in the breeding areas arrive than the females.
Habitat
Breeding areas
As a ground-nesting birds of the Tree Pipit needed during its reproductive period, a habitat, which in addition to a stock of tall trees or shrubs enough clearings with a sufficiently dense herbaceous layer. According missing Baumpieper in extensive arable landscapes or grassland areas, as they are characteristic of Friesland and North Holland. A binding to a particular species does not have the tree pipit. It occurs both in coniferous forests and deciduous or mixed deciduous forests. The sooner occasionally voiced suspicion, Tree Pipit reported similar to the Goldcrest for binding to conifers, is now regarded as disproved.
Besides loosened, sunny edges of forests, clearcuts, afforestation and forest clearings as the most important breeding habitats use Baumpieper Gentiles, vineyards and Moore, provided they have enough trees and a dense herb layer. Sun -exposed sites are preferred. In cemeteries, orchards or parks however, they are rarely seen because it is not dense enough here the herb layer in the rule.
The height distribution of the tree pipit is influenced by a presence of herb or dwarf shrub layers. He comes here regularly to the tree line. In the Alps it breeds up to an altitude of 2300 m and in Austria, most representatives of the tree pipit is even in the montane belt of the Alps. In the Himalayas there are breeding records for the Tree Pipit still at an altitude of 4,200 meters.
Train and wintering areas
Tree Pipit, which are on their way to their winter quarters, to use agricultural land more so than during the breeding season. During their search for food, they are then also be seen in meadows and pastures, as well as arable land, which are grown on root crops or clover and alfalfa. This provides them with the growth sufficient coverage. Arable land such as harvested grain fields are visited only near bushes.
In the wintering area, the tree pipit holds similar in its breeding areas preferably in semi-open to open terrain in wood close up. Accordingly, it can be found here along forest edges or clearings of acacia forests. He is also often on the verge of coffee, banana and oil palm plantations and regularly observed in gardens.
Food and foraging
The diet consists almost exclusively of small, soft-bodied insects. Seeds or other parts of plants have been sporadically found in the stomachs of tree pipits, but they represent only a very small proportion of the food represents the main component of the diet make the caterpillars of butterflies and locusts. To prey also include bugs, beetles, aphids, parasitic wasps, ants, and caddisflies. The food composition may shift if, for example, are the caterpillars of the oak leaf roller abundant due to mass development. Also in the wintering sites provide beetles, caterpillars and bugs, the preferred food components dar. Here, however, Tree Pipit also eat termites.
To cover its liquid requirement to use Baumpieper mostly water drops hanging on plants. In open water you can see the tree pipit rare. He finds his food on both surfaces with low vegetation and on trees. There is disagreement even what percentage of the total food has the booty found on trees and if there are any seasonal variations. It is generally assumed that the tree pipit is the largest source of food on the floor.
For the acquisition of food, the tree pipit uses not only be breeding grounds, but regularly also an additional food area which is not necessarily adjacent to the breeding grounds. It can take up to half a kilometer away and are often used by more than one tree pipit pair.
Became independent young birds often form loosely cohesive squads that roam together in the field near the breeding site. The size of these teams increases to emigration.
Breeding biology
The breeding grounds
Tree Pipit are not yet mated on their return to the breeding grounds, and the first returnees are mostly perennial male. They are followed by several years of females and then the one-year males. Returning males immediately begin to occupy territories. The returnees are brutorttreu; also young birds return to their birthplace. However, due to the instability of the used by them as breeding areas habitats such as clearcuts and clearings, the breeding grounds relocate regularly. Tree Pipit lead a monogamous marriage season, which may come through the area fidelity to the fact that mate former partner again.
The breeding area comprises the area where the nest is located, and towards conspecifics defend the males and females. Depending on the quality of the habitat and population density varies the size of the breeding coalfield between 0.3 and 2.5 hectares. The first returning males who are still exposed to so much competition, initially occupy a much larger area. Under the pressure of returning conspecifics later this then reduced gradually.
The district boundaries are marked by the singing of the male and - after the district boundaries are defined - respected by peers. Adjacent pairs avoid direct area crossing, by flying the coalfields other Baumpieper couples at high altitude.
Penetrates Tree Pipit males from a populated area a, the song of the station owner is loud and excited. Not responding station intruder out with retreat, the station owner is flying towards him singing. This is usually sufficient to move an intruder to retreat. Real attacks on conspecifics are rare. The birds attack each case with wings and beak blows and the claws. Even foreign females are sold by the male from the area, albeit at a lower intensity. Females support the males occasionally in the area claim and defend the area in the absence of the male alone. Unlike the males keeping it No chants heard.
The nest and rearing of young birds
The nest is on the ground under tufts of grass, dwarf shrubs, ferns or hidden under low bushes. Basically, the nests are designed so that a blinds are made up. Areas with a vegetation with forest Zwenke ( Brachypodium sylvaticum ), wavy ( Deschampsia flexuosa ) and reed grass ( Calamgrostis epigeios ) are used most frequently to the plant of the nest. To nest the tree pipit used dry grass, lots of moss and dry leaves. The hemispherical nest hollow is lined with fibers, roots and thin blades of grass. The nest building is done only by the female.
The nest usually consists of five eggs, which weigh two to three grams and are colored very variable. The eggs of a cross ply resemble each other in color, but the female dependent they are gray, purple, green, rust brown or pink. They are dark brown mottled in a rule, with the spotting is very variable. They range from thin, small dots to large- scale rough spots that run into each other so that the eggs appear almost completely dark brown or black gray.
The breeding begins located in Central Europe usually in May. Only the female incubates. It leaves per day between twelve and fifteen times the nest to look for food. Incubation period is twelve to fourteen days. The young birds remain ten to twelve days in the nest. You are not yet fledged at this time and hiding in the herb layer of the soil. Both parents feed the young birds birds even if they have moved away from the nest. Fed the young birds until about the 25th day of life. The number of feedings decreases with increasing age of the young birds from however. Your flying reach the young birds between their fifteenth and twentieth day of life.
Fails the first brood, most Baumpieper couples start with a replacement brood. A high proportion of tree pipits who have successfully raised their first brood, begins with a second brood. In exceptional cases even follows a third breeding attempt when the young of the second brood are successfully flown. In general, the clutch size decreases with advanced breeding season. On average, pulls one pair per year for three to four young birds successfully large.
Life expectancy and inventory
The average age of tree pipit populations is estimated at less than two years. In a study in which in Kalmthout, Belgium, a Tree Pipit population was observed over five years, the number of one-year birds averaged nearly fifty per cent. Under recaptured birds ringed four percent were older than five years. The oldest so far recaptured bird ring was seven years and eight months old. What is the impact predators, raptors, corvids, shrikes and parasites on the mortality of nestlings, fledglings and adult tree pipits, is not yet sufficiently investigated. In birds, which were investigated on the Heligoland Bird Observatory, include Tree Pipit to the bird species that are most commonly infected by the tick Ixodes ricinus. However, a major influence on the survival rate of tree pipits have weather conditions. During the turn, the mortality is high, especially in cold, wet weather. In winter quarters, especially drought affect the survival rate.
The existence of the autumn tree pipit is estimated for the entire Artareal of about 14 million square kilometers to approximately 370 million individuals. In Germany brood 520000-600000 pairs. For Sweden, the stock however is estimated at 4 million and Finland to 1.6 million breeding pairs. The stock fluctuates depending on suitable habitats: He rises when after storm damage and pest infestations open woodlands occur. In Finland, the Tree Pipit book benefited from large-scale logging activities and was able to extend its range even in regions that had existed until then sealed with forest. Populations go back when a large area near-natural mixed forests converted to coniferous crops or yield poor heath and moorland areas are reforested.
System
Despite the very large distribution area so far only two subspecies are described. The populations that breed in the area of the Himalayas, are summarized in the subspecies Anthus trivialis haring toni. These differ from the nominate Anthus trivialis trivialis mainly through a slightly wider at the base beak. Within the nominate although there are some differences in plumage coloration - so, for example, have the native to Scotland populations a reddish- yellow tinged chin - but the differences are minor and do not have constant regional differences, so far no further differentiation was made into subspecies.