Pipits
Richard's Pipit
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen individually and sometimes in pairs.
This is a large pipit, 17–20 cm in length and a wingspan of 29 to 33 cm. It is a slender bird which often stands very upright. It has long yellow-brown legs, a long tail with white outer-feathers and a long dark bill with a yellowish base to the lower mandible. The hindclaw is long and fairly straight. It is an undistinguished-looking species on the ground, mainly brown above and pale below. There are dark streaks on the upperparts and breast while the belly and flanks are plain. The face is strongly marked with pale lores and supercilium and dark eyestripe, moustachial stripe and malar stripe. There are two wingbars formed by pale tips to the wing-coverts.
The song is a repeated series of monotonous buzzy notes given in an undulating song-flight.
Diet
Like other pipits, this species is insectivorous. It mainly feeds on the ground and will also make short flights to catch flying insects. A few seeds are also eaten.
Longevity record
-
Bilblun Prim
Anthus richardi
Passeriformes
Motacillidae
Rare
Usually seen in
---
Occasionally seen in
September - May
Click on the image to open slideshow
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
17 - 20
27 - 37
Tawny Pipit
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen individually and sometimes in pairs and in small groups.
Large, but slender and long-legged pipit recalling wagtail in build. Easily confused with Richard's Pipit, but differs in dark lores, almost unstreaked breast, short hind-claw, slender body and thinner bill. The thin moustache-stripe combined with the dark lores stands out from the otherwise pale head. Greater coverts with dark centres and pale fringes are the most contrasting part of the body. Tertials are fringed warm brown. Tail with broad white edges. Immatures are more streaked above and on breast and sometimes flanks, but lore dark as in adults. Flight wagtail-like and less powerful than Richard's Pipit. Stance less upright, with wagtail-like gait.
Diet
Like other pipits, this species is insectivorous. It mainly feeds on the ground and will also make short flights to catch flying insects. A few seeds are also eaten.
Longevity record
-
Bilblun
Anthus campestris
Passeriformes
Motacillidae
Fairly common
Usually seen in
April - May
Occasionally seen in
March, June - October
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Length (cm):
Weight (g):
15.5 - 18
26 - 32
Olive-backed Pipit
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen individually.
A fairly characteristic pipit due to the fresh plumage tones, defined facial pattern and marked breast streaking. Back olive-coloured with only faint streaking. Rump lacks streaking. Usually shows a pale and a black spot on rear cheeks. Legs pinkish, with short hind-claw, similar to Tree Pipit. Similar behaviour as Tree Pipit. Readily enters trees, and will also walk along branches. Flight also similar to Tree Pipit, lacking the stuttering motion of Meadow Pipit.
Diet
Like other pipits, this species is insectivorous. It mainly feeds on the ground and will also make short flights to catch flying insects. A few seeds are also eaten.
Longevity record
-
Diżż tal-Lvant / Diżżu tal-Lvant
Anthus hodgsoni
Passeriformes
Motacillidae
Very rare
Usually seen in
October - November
Occasionally seen in
December - February
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Length (cm):
Weight (g):
14 - 15.5
21 - 24
Tree Pipit
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen individually, in small groups or in larger flocks.
Very similar to Meadow Pipit, but streaking on flanks noticeably finer than on breast. Bill heavier, with pinkish base. Legs pinkish. Short and curved hind claw. Plain rump. Slightly more elongated shape than Meadow Pipit.
Diet
Like other pipits, this species is insectivorous. It mainly feeds on the ground and will also make short flights to catch flying insects. A few seeds are also eaten.
Longevity record
8 years 9 months (Found dead in the Czech Republic, Z 347042)
Diżż / Diżżu
Anthus trivialis
Passeriformes
Motacillidae
Fairly common
Usually seen in
March - May
Occasionally seen in
August - November
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Length (cm):
Weight (g):
14 - 16
19 - 25
Meadow Pipit
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen individually, in small groups or in larger flocks.
Streaking on flanks just as heavy as that on chest (see Tree Pipit). Legs pinkish. Hind toe long and almost straight. Bill slender with yellowish base. Rump unstreaked. Jerky flight pattern. Generally a featureless bird, and is easily confused with other pipits. Best identified by sound.
Diet
Like other pipits, this species is insectivorous. It mainly feeds on the ground and will also make short flights to catch flying insects. A few seeds are also eaten.
Longevity record
13 years 1 month (Found dead in Poland, KX 21880)
Pespus
Anthus pratensis
Passeriformes
Motacillidae
Fairly common
Usually seen in
October - March
Occasionally seen in
April - May, September
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Length (cm):
Weight (g):
14 - 15.5
15 - 23
Red-throated Pipit
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen individually or in small groups.
Pipit with distinctly streaked breast and flanks. Adults with rich rusty red coloured throat, breast and supercilium. Males usually more red than females. Easily confused with other pipits when in winter- and juvenile plumage. Characterised by two whitish stripes on back, heavily streaked rump and flight call.
Diet
Like other pipits, this species is insectivorous. It mainly feeds on the ground and will also make short flights to catch flying insects. A few seeds are also eaten.
Longevity record
-
Diżż Aħmar / Diżżu Aħmar
Anthus cervinus
Passeriformes
Motacillidae
Fairly common
Usually seen in
March - May
Occasionally seen in
October - January
Click on the image to open slideshow
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
14 - 15
19 - 23
Water Pipit
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen individually.
Contrasting, double wing-bars, unstreaked belly (and only modestly streaked flanks), brownish rump, broad supercilium, paler underwing and pure white outer tail feathers. Summer plumage with more strongly coloured buff or pinkish underparts and greyer upperparts, but difficult to identify when plumage wo
Diet
Like other pipits, this species is insectivorous. It mainly feeds on the ground and will also make short flights to catch flying insects. A few seeds are also eaten.
Longevity record
-
Usually seen in
November - December
Occasionally seen in
October, February - April
Click on the image to open slideshow
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
15.5 - 18
18 - 23
*Some information was sourced from ''BirdID Nord University''.