Scientific name: Anthus pratensis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Bird group: Pipits
Field characters. 14.5 cm. General colour somewhat variable. Mainly greyish-brown, greenish-brown or olive, with dark spots and streaks on upper- and underparts. Breast suffused with yellow-brown, breast and flanks heavily spotted, belly whitish. Whitish supercilium and malar stripe, narrow dark moustachial stripe, white throat. Two whitish wing bars. Tail dark, with white on outer tail feathers. Legs pink or greyish; never as blackish as in Rock or Water Pipit. Often very difficult to distinguish from Tree Pipit, except on voice. Other trenchant characters are less pronounced facial pattern of Meadow Pipit, and usually more yellow tones in plumage and more pinkish legs of Tree Pipit. Both species are often found on the ground or perch in trees, especially when disturbed. In pairs during breeding season, usually in small or large flocks outside breeding season, together with other pipits, larks, etc.
Voice. Calls thin 'eest' and 'teeseep'. Song series of 'tsee'-notes, accelerating and ending in trill, during which bird glides down like a parachute.
Distribution. Common; summer visitor in north-eastern part of range, resident and migrant in west and south.
Habitat. Mainly found in open areas with complete cover of low vegetation. In winter in wider variety of habitats, but always near low cover.
Food. Mainly invertebrates, also some seeds. Feeds almost exclusively on the ground.