Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) [XC710218]
by Jorick van de Westeringh from Hondsbroekse pleij, Westervoort, Gelderland, France (call, flight call)
Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) [XC837199]
by Regina Eidner from Baix Ebre (near L'Ametlla de Mar), Tarragona, Catalunya, Spain (nocturnal flight call)
Nest
A cup composed of grasses, concealed under vegetation, lined with hair.
Eggs (Guide)
3 - 5; smooth, glossy, variable grey to reddish, spotted, mottled or streaked blackish.
Subspecies
Possibly forms a clade with Rosy Pipit (Anthus roseatus), Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus), Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta), Rock Pipit (Anthus petrosus) and Buff-bellied Pipit (Anthus rubescens). Validity of subspecies whistleri debatable, possibly only a clinal variant.
Proposed subspecies enigmaticus (described from Tashkent) and theresae (western Ireland) included, respectively, in nominate and whistleri.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
pratensis (Linnaeus, 1758) - Breeds south-eastern Greenland, Iceland, and from north, north-western and central Europe (except northern Scotland and Ireland) east to western Siberia, south to southern France and central Romania; has bred Italy (Appennines); isolated population in Caucasus (border mountains of Georgia and Armenia). Winters south to northern Africa, Middle East and south-western Asia.
whistleri Clancey, 1942 - Northern Scotland and Ireland.
The Reader's Digest Book of British Birds 1980, 3rd Edition, Drive Publications Ltd ISBN 0 340 25308 8
Birds in Colour Campbell, B., 1960, Penguin Books Ltd
The Pocket Guide to Nest and Eggs Fitter, R.S.R., 1954, Collins
RSPB Handbook of British Birds Holden, P., Cleeves, T., 2002, A & C Black ISBN 0 7136 5713 8
Birds of Britain and Europe Sterry, P., et al., 2001, AA Publishing ISBN 0 7495 3068 5
The Popular Handbook of British Birds Hollom, P.A.D., 1973, H.F. & G. Witherby Ltd ISBN 0 85493 002 7
BirdLife International Species Factsheet