Sound clips and movies require Adobe Flash player. Latin nameAnthus petrosus FamilyPipits and wagtails (Motacillidae) OverviewThe rock pipit is a large stocky pipit, larger than a meadow pipit and smaller than a starling. It is streaky olive-brown above and dirty white underneath with dark streaking. It breeds around the coast where there are rocky beaches, and most of the birds that breed in the UK are residents, with only the young birds dispersing once they become independent. Some birds arrive here from Norway to spend the winter. Where to see themLook for it on rocky shorelines around the UK as it hops, walks and runs foraging for food among the boulders. Birds are sometimes seen perched on prominent rocks. Absent from the less rocky parts of north-west, east and south England coastlines. When to see themAll year round. What they eatInsects, beetles, small fish, small shellfish and seeds. Estimated numbers| Europe | UK breeding* | UK wintering* | UK passage* |
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| - | 35,650 pairs | - | - |
* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn. Distribution
Please note that the map is only intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations. Audio is from commercial recordings Bird Songs and Calls of Britain and Europe on 4 CDs or Bird Sounds of Europe & North-west Africa, copyright WildSounds & CEBA (www.wildsounds.com, (UK) +44 (0) 1263 741100) |