15-10-2017 DEVESA, VALENCIA - TREE PIPIT (Anthus trivialis)

The tree pipit (Anthus trivialis ) is a small passerine bird which breeds across most of Europe and the Palearctic as far East as the East Siberian Mountains. It is a long-distance migrant moving in winter to Africa and southern Asia. The scientific name is from Latin. Anthus is the name for a small bird of grasslands, and the specific trivialis means "common", from trivium, "public street".

This is a small pipit, which resembles meadow pipit. It is an undistinguished-looking species, streaked brown above and with black markings on a white belly and buff breast below. It can be distinguished from the slightly smaller meadow pipit by its heavier bill and greater contrast between its buff breast and white belly. Tree pipits more readily perch in trees.

The call is a strong spek, unlike the weak call of its relative. The song flight is unmistakable. The bird rises a short distance up from a tree, and then parachutes down on stiff wings, the song becoming more drawn out towards the end.

The breeding habitat is open woodland and scrub. The nest is on the ground, with 4–8 eggs being laid. This species is insectivorous, like its relatives, but will also take seeds. 

20-9-2017 TANCAT DE PIPA, VALENCIA - TREE PIPIT (Anthus trivialis)

The tree pipit (Anthus trivialis) is a small passerine bird that breeds throughout most of Europe and the Palearctic as far east as the East Siberian Mountains. It is a long-distance migrant, migrating in winter to Africa and southern Asia. The scientific name is from Latin: anthus is the name of a small bird of grasslands, and the specific trivialis means "common".

The breeding habitat is open woodland and scrub. The nest is placed on the ground and usually 4–6 eggs are laid. This species is insectivorous like its relatives, but will also eat seeds.

This is a small pipit that resembles the meadow pipit. It is an undistinguished looking species, with brown stripes above and with black markings on white underparts and buff breast below. It can be differentiated from the slightly smaller meadow pipit by its heavier bill and greater contrast between its buff breast and white belly. Tree pipits are more likely to perch in trees.

The call is a strong spek, unlike the weak call of its relative. The song flight is unmistakable. The bird rises a short distance up from a tree, and then parachutes down on stiff wings, the song becoming more drawn out towards the end.

mid-September to mid-April: lives in sub Saharan Africa

mid April to beginning of May: migrates and arrives in countries such as the United Kingdom

beginning of May to August: breeding season, two broods

August to mid September: flies back to Saharan Africas

 

The tree pipit breeds in habitats with a wooded component, including lowland heath and coppice. It is most common in open woodland bordering on moorland or in open structured oak woodland – hence the need for heavy thinning to create a gappy structure. It prefers medium-sized trees with a low canopy, where there is low-growing scrub and brambles less than 2 metres high, so that horizontal visibility is relatively good. It likes a mosaic of grass and bracken, but not heavily grazed short turf, so light to moderate grazing is preferred.

26-5-2017 MARJAL DE MOROS, VALENCIA - TREE PIPIT (Anthus trivialis)

The Tree Pipit, Anthus trivialis, is a modestly adorned avian, cloaked in streaks of brown with black markings adorning its white underbelly and a buff breast. Its bill, more robust than that of its kin, and the contrast between its buff breast and white belly are distinguishing features. This species is known to alight upon the boughs of trees with greater frequency than its relative, the Meadow Pipit.

To identify the Tree Pipit, look for a small bird with a heavy bill and a distinct contrast between its buff breast and white belly. Its upperparts are streaked brown, and it has black markings on its underparts. The Tree Pipit can be differentiated from the slightly smaller Meadow Pipit by these characteristics.

The Tree Pipit favors open woodlands and scrublands for its breeding grounds. It thrives in open woodland adjacent to moorland or in oak woodlands with a spacious structure, requiring significant thinning to achieve a desirable open character.

This species breeds across most of Europe and the Palearctic, reaching as far east as the East Siberian Mountains. It is a long-distance migrant, wintering in Africa and southern Asia.