Photographing The Eurasian Rock Pipit

The Rock Pipit is a small stocky bird about 17 cm long. In summer, it is recognisable by its chest and ivory flanks streaked with small grey-brown strips. The top of its plumage is grey-brown tending towards an olive colour. The tail is dark brown with rather grey external borders. In winter, its plumage is duller: the chest is greyish and the back is also darker. Beak and feet are dark in all seasons.

It is difficult to tell the difference between the Rock Pipit and its subspecies. It can easily be confused with the Water Pipit and the Meadow Pipit. However, its darker plumage, its more scattered streaks, its longer beak and its darker legs make it possible to distinguish from others.

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Occurrence

There is another trick to differentiate the Rock Pipit from other species of Pipit: it will never be found in mountainous areas. The Rock Pipit prefers the rocky coasts of northern and western Europe, but also those of Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Ireland, Russia and France. Many populations migrate to warmer regions in the winter, for example, the Greek, Algerian and Moroccan coasts. There, it particularly likes flat coasts with wide beaches of fine sand.

The Rock Pipit is not an endangered species because its habitat is not threatened.

Photographing tips

The song of the Rock Pipit recalls the one of the Meadow Pipit in flight, but it is more metallic and rough.

The little bird finds its food between the rocks and the vegetation of the shore. It usually eats small invertebrates such as snails, crustaceans and molluscs. It might also capture insects.

The breeding season is between April and July. The female constructs a cup-shaped nest made of grass, seaweed, and hair. The nest is usually built in a small cavity or crevice between rocks near the water. While the female is breeding 4 to 5 eggs, the male stands guard. The brooding lasts about 2 weeks. Chicks are raised and fed by both parents. 15 days after birth, the young birds leave the nest and explore the surroundings accompanied by their parents. Two weeks later they leave the parental nest for good.

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