MEADOW PIPIT
I have seen 5 species of pipit on the island, tawny, water, tree, red-throated and the meadow pipit. The meadow pipit is by far, the most common here. The upper body is brown with dark streaks, while the undersides are off-white merging to olive at the sides. The chest and sides are also dark streaked, with the streaks all being the same length. The bill is slender, looks dark from distance but is dark on top and yellow underneath. The legs are pale pink or yellow, with the rear claw being very long compared to the rest of the toes. Both sexes have a similar appearance.
The meadow pipit prefers open spaces and can be seen all over the island. It is partial to marshes, grasslands, and non-intensive agricultural land. They feed on the ground where they are well camoflaged but can often be seen on elevated perches including electric wires, checking for predators and love rivals. Insects and invertebrates are their main food but will also eat the seeds of grass, sedges and rushes. They nest on the ground in dense vegetation with usually 3 to 5 eggs being laid. The eggs hatch after 2 weeks and fledge after a further 2 weeks.
