The Rock Pipit of Britain and Ireland

Rock Pipits are small songbirds who live along the rocky sea coasts and offshore islands of Britain and Ireland. Resident Rock Pipits are common and widespread birds along the coasts of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Wintering Rock Pipits from Scandinavia join resident birds in the autumn.

Other names for the Rock Pipit include the Eurasian Rock Pipit and “Rockets” among birdwatchers.

The Rock Pipit is a stocky bird which is slightly larger and darker than its cousin, the Meadow Pipit, The plumage of adults is olive-grey with heavy streaking on its breast, and dark legs. The fine bill is also dark.

Most Rock Pipits remain on their territories throughout the year while a few gather in small groups during the winter.

Rock Pipits typically forage and breed along rocky shorelines, pebbly beaches, offshore islands, sea cliffs and estuaries, They avoid sandy beaches and mudflats and are rarely seen inland.

The harsh environment along the coast has been chosen by Rock Pipits because there is less competition for food and nest sites with other species of songbirds.

The main diet of the Rock Pipit is small invertebrates small shrimps and sandhoppers), shellfish (periwinkles), insects (flies and beetles) and small fish,

Rock Pipits are inconspicuous as they forage among the stones, boulders and seaweed between the tides. They spend most of their time on the ground where they walk and run like other pipits. They can sometimes be seen on prominent rocks, piers and roads near beaches.

They are tame birds who generally take little notice of people (Birdguides – a short video of Rock Pipit - https://www.birdguides.com/species-gui…/ioc/anthus-petrosus/ ).

Rock Pipits are common, resident birds in their strongholds of Scotland and Wales. Most resident birds remain in the areas where they were hatched. A few British residents move more than 100 kilometres, or eighty miles, or more during the winter.

Resident birds are either absent or found in smaller numbers in the south, east and north-west of Britain.

Rock Pipits are found along the whole coast of both the Republic of and Northern Ireland.

Rock Pipits are particularly vulnerable to cold, harsh winter weather.

Large numbers of wintering Rock Pipits leave their breeding grounds in Scandinavia (Norway) and arrive on the coasts of Britain and Ireland in the autumn.

Wintering birds are widespread around the coasts where they also visit saltmarshes. Some are seen inland while foraging on the banks of rivers, reservoirs and gravel pits.

Most Rock Pipits in Europe head south for the winter to Greece, Algeria and Morocco.

Rock Pipits are generally quiet birds except between March and July when they make a “pseep” call.

Pairs begin breeding in April when males perform a song flight which is similar to that of the Meadow Pipit. The breeding season ends in July.

The female builds a nest in a hole in a cliff, a crevice in the rocks or on the ground hidden among vegetation along rocky shores, steep sea cliffs, offshore islands and harbours.

A cup-shaped nest is made of seaweed, grass and leaves with a finer lining of feathers.

Four or five eggs are laid in May which hatch after 2 weeks. The young leave the nest after 12 days and learn to fly after 15 or 16 days. Both parents look after the young who often raise 2 broods a year.

Breeding birds often forage on grasslands near the coast whereas these areas are deserted at other times of the year.

Young birds disperse after the breeding season and move further than adults when searching for new territories. They regularly visit nearby agricultural land.

Adults begin breeding when they are 1 year old. The average lifespan of the Rock Pipit is up to 5 years.

The Rock Pipit, Anthus petrosus, is a green-listed species of bird in both Britain and Ireland.

The population of Rock Pipits has declined on the Shetland Islands and parts of the east coast of Scotland in recent years.

Some of the threats to Rock Pipits are disturbance on beaches by holidaymakers, pollution and a lack of food in their coastal habitats.

The Rock Pipit is classified as of Least Concern by IUCN.

The whole breeding population of Rock Pipits is confined to Europe and described as “stable”.

For more information on the Meadow Pipit of Britain and Ireland, please visit
http://bird4u.mzzhost.com/index.html