Tree Pipit

The tree pipit is a small, undistinguished-looking passerine that resembles the meadow pipit, with brown stripes above and black markings on white underparts and a buff breast; it differs from the slightly smaller meadow pipit in its heavier bill and greater contrast between the buff breast and white belly. It breeds through most of Europe and the Palearctic as far east as the East Siberian Mountains, in open woodland and scrub (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is a long-distance migrant, wintering in Africa and southern Asia. It is insectivorous but also eats seeds. The call is a strong spek, and the song flight is unmistakable: the bird rises a short distance from a tree and parachutes down on stiff wings as the song draws out. The female builds the nest on the ground and incubates the four to six eggs, and both parents feed the chicks. SoIB 2023 rates it a Moderate conservation priority, a winter migrant with a Very Large range of about 1.04 million km², a decline of about 55% over the long term and a current decline of about 5% a year (Wikipedia, general species account; SoIB 2023).