Meadow pipit

The meadow pipit is a delightful small bird native to various regions across the Palearctic. These birds breed from Greenland to Russia and as far south as France and Romania. True to their migratory nature, meadow pipits travel to southern Europe, North Africa, and southwestern Asia when the weather turns cold, though some populations remain in western Europe throughout the year.

Measuring approximately 14.5 to 15 cm in length, the meadow pipit features a brown upper body with a buff-colored underside accented by darker streaks. Its slender bill is well-suited to its diet. The bird's call is a soft "tsi-tsi" and its song is simple and repetitive.

Meadow pipits thrive in open habitats such as pastures, bogs, moorlands, and saltmarshes, where they feed on insects, invertebrates, and seeds. During the breeding season, they select dense vegetation to lay their 2 to 7 eggs, typically raising two broods each year.

Interestingly, meadow pipits are often targeted by cuckoos, which lay their eggs in the pipits' nests. These birds also face predation from merlins and hen harriers. Unfortunately, their population has been declining, particularly in French farmlands.

The name "pipit" is onomatopoeic, reflecting the sound of their call, while "pratensis" is Latin for "of a meadow." Though they resemble the red-throated pipit and the tree pipit, they can be distinguished by their unique features and song.