Scientific name: Anthus cervinus (Pallas, 1811)
Bird group: Pipits
Field characters. 14.5 cm. Winter plumage very similar to Meadow Pipit, with brownish upperparts, spotted breast and flanks, white belly, and dark tail with white on outer tail feathers. In summer plumage easy to recognise by reddish, pink, or brownish-pink face and unspotted throat, colour often extending onto belly and flanks. Adults often keep red on throat in winter. In winter distinguishable from Meadow Pipit by two parallel long white streaks on back and heavily spotted flanks. Rump streaked, but this character usually useless in the field. Legs pinkish-grey, like Meadow Pipit. Voice different, but habits largely the same. On migration often in flocks with other pipits, especially Meadow Pipit.
Voice. Calls more variable than in Tree Pipit and some very similar, but characteristic is a drawn-out Reed Bunting-like 'tseeee'. Song as in other pipits, a repetition of notes, but more musical and impetuous than Meadow Pipit.
Distribution. Rather rare summer visitor.
Habitat. In summer mainly on moist tundra, in winter in variety of open areas, like wasteland, fields, marshes, etc.
Food. Mainly invertebrates, but also some seeds.