Meadow Pipit.

The Meadow Pipit is a small passerine bird that is also known as Titlark. In the United Kingdom, birdwatchers also refer to this bird as the “Mippit”. It is scientifically known as Anthus pratensis. The bird is systemically classified and it comes under the Kingdom Animalia, the Phylum Chordata, and the class Aves (which includes most of the birds). The Meadow Pipit belongs to the Order Passeriformes, and the family Motacillidae.

This bird is seen in most parts of the northern regions of Europe and Asia. It is migratory species and it is seen to winter in the northern parts of Africa, and the southern regions of Europe and Asia. However, the bird is also seen to be resident type in the western parts of Europe such as the coastal areas like Ireland, and Great Britain. But during winter, even these birds move towards the coast or the lowlands.

The small Pipit is very common and is occurring in widespread areas. The birds appear mostly brown in colour on their upper parts and are buff coloured on their lower surface. The plumage is seen to be darkly streaked. The Meadow Pipit has a thin bill and legs that are pale pink in colour. The Meadow Pipit has a weak call that sounds like “Tsi Tsi”. This sound is repeated many times and is sung as a short flight song. The bird will rise up almost silently and it dives almost vertically towards the ground while singing the song.

The Meadow Pipit is similar in appearance to a Tree Pipit that is scientifically known as Anthus trivialis. The Tree Pipit is larger in size, is having a plumage that is less heavily streaked and also the facial markings are stronger when compared to that of the Meadow Pipit.

The Meadow Pipit, as the name suggests is mostly found in open and uncultivated habitats such as pastures, heaths, bogs, rough grasslands, coastal marshes and moor lands. In the winter seasons the bird can be seen in marshes, rough grasslands and in stubble fields. The nest is usually built on the ground and these nests are completely concealed. The female bird uses dry grass to build the nests and may be lined by hair or finer grass. The eggs are smooth, glossy in appearance and are white in colour with a heavy brown coloured spotting on the surface. The eggs are small, about 19 x 15 millimetres in size. These eggs are incubated by the females but when they hatch, the young ones are fed by both the parents. It is seen that the Meadow Pipits are parasitized by another type of bird called as the cuckoo.

The food for the Meadow Pipit mainly consists of small insects such as flies, spiders, moths and beetles, during the spring and the summer seasons; and some seeds during the autumn and winter seasons.

However, it is seen that the changes in farming practices have led to the reduction in the habitats of the Meadow Pipit. Conservation methods are being done to help the Pipits to regain their lost territories.