Tree pipit

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Tree pipit
Tree pipit - Jamnagar 2021-10-16.jpg
At Jamnagar, during wintering
Song, recorded Devon, England
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Motacillidae
Genus: Anthus
Species:
A. trivialis
Binomial name
Anthus trivialis
AnthusTrivialisIUCNver2018 2.png
Range of A. trivialis
  Breeding
  Non-breeding
  Passage
Synonyms
  • Alauda trivialisLinnaeus, 1758

The tree pipit (Anthus trivialis) is a small passerine bird that breeds throughout most of Europe and the Palearctic as far east as the East Siberian Mountains. It is a long-distance migrant, migrating in winter to Africa and southern Asia. The scientific name is from Latin: anthus is the name of a small bird of grasslands, and the specific trivialis means "common".

Contents

The breeding habitat is open woodland and scrub. The nest is placed on the ground and usually 4–6 eggs are laid. This species is insectivorous like its relatives, but will also eat seeds.

Taxonomy

The tree pipit was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Alauda trivialis. Linnaeus noted that the species occurred in Sweden. [2] The specific epithet trivialis is Latin meaning "common" or "ordinary" from Latin trivium meaning "public street". [3] The tree pipit is now placed in the genus Anthus that was introduced in 1805 by the German naturalist Johann Matthäus Bechstein. [4] [5]

Two subspecies are recognised: [5]

Description

This is a small pipit that resembles the meadow pipit. It is a nondescript looking species, with brown stripes above and with black markings on white underparts and buff breast below. It can be distinguished from the slightly smaller meadow pipit by its heavier bill and greater contrast between its buff breast and white belly. Tree pipits are more likely to perch in trees.

The call is a strong spek, unlike the weak call of its relative. The song flight is unmistakable. The bird rises a short distance up from a tree, and then parachutes down on stiff wings, the song becoming more drawn out towards the end.

Life cycle

Distribution and habitat

The tree pipit breeds in habitats with a wooded component, including lowland heath and coppice. It is most common in open woodland bordering on moorland or in open structured oak woodland – hence the need for heavy thinning to create a gappy structure. It prefers medium-sized trees with a low canopy, where there is low-growing scrub and brambles less than 2 metres high, so that horizontal visibility is relatively good. It likes a mosaic of grass and bracken, but not heavily grazed short turf, so light to moderate grazing is preferred. [6]

Behaviour

Breeding

A tree pipit nest found in clearfell habitat, Northern England, holding a clutch of six eggs of the darker variation. Tree Pipit nest and eggs.jpg
A tree pipit nest found in clearfell habitat, Northern England, holding a clutch of six eggs of the darker variation.

Tree pipits nest on the ground amongst grass or heather tussocks. The nest is built by the female. The clutch of 4 to 6 eggs is incubated by the female. The eggs hatch after 12–14 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and leave the nest after 12–14 days. The nests are sometimes parasitized by the common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus). [6]

Feeding

Tree pipits mainly eat invertebrates, typically insects but will also eat some plant material. They mostly forage on the ground. [6]

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2018). "Anthus trivialis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T22718546A131985523. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22718546A131985523.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ↑ Linnaeus, Carl (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. 1 (10th ed.). Holmiae (Stockholm): Laurentii Salvii. p. 166.
  3. ↑ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 391. ISBN   978-1-4081-2501-4.
  4. ↑ Bechstein, Johann Matthäus (1805). Gemeinnützige Naturgeschichte Deutschlands nach allen drey Reichen (in German). Vol. 2 (2nd ed.). Leipzig: Bey Siegfried Lebrecht Crusiu. pp. 247, 302 Note.
  5. 1 2 Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (January 2021). "Waxbills, parrotfinches, munias, whydahs, Olive Warbler, accentors, pipits". IOC World Bird List Version 11.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 Tyler, Stephanie J. (2004). "Family Motacillidae (Pipits and Wagtails)" . In del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Christie, D.A. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 9: Cotingas to Pipits and Wagtails. Barcelona, Spain: Lynx Edicions. pp. 686–786 [765] ]. ISBN   978-84-87334-69-6.
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