Rock Pipit

Above: Rock Pipit.
Below: Meadow Pipit.

Rock Pipits are resident birds in Britain being found, as their name implies, in rocky areas. In my experience this has always been in coastal locations but I have no reason to believe that they are not found at any inland rocky sites. However, the coast is by far the most reliable place to find them.

Their backs are a grey/buff colour very heavily streaked or mottled with dark brown. Their wings and tails are dark brown but each feather has paler brown or grey/buff edges. The tail has white outer edges more noticeable in flight. The head is brown with an obvious pale moustache stripe. There is sometimes also a paler patch above and behind the eye but not very prominent. The breast, belly and vent are grey/buff. The upper breast is heavily streaked with dark brown and is also washed with a slightly warmer brown background. The streaking can extend a little to the flanks where is becomes less distinct but not usually to the belly. The legs and beak are dark brown.

Their habitats often overlap with meadow pipits one of which is shown below left. The birds are similar in appearance but the meadow pipit is usually a lighter, brighter and warmer coloured bird although I have seen some that are closer in appearance to the rock pipit. The best clue (if you can see them) is the legs. The meadow pipit has very pale flesh pink legs whilst the rock pipits legs are brown, sometimes almost black. It's the best and easiest distinguishing feature.

As these birds like rocky coastal terrain, that's obviously where to look for them. So places, like the Great Orme and Little Orme at Llandudno, Anglesey around the rockier parts of the coast and St Bees head cliffs in Cumbria are the best places to look. Point-of-Air in Clwyd may also be worth checking out but don't expect to find them easily here. In fact, the best place I have found is Fleswick Bay along the St Bees Head coastal path. The bay here is easy to access and the cliffs and jumble of rocks at their base provide the perfect rock pipit habitat. Pick a good place to stand still and wait for them to land nearby. It's easy!