Meadow pipit

    Anthus pratensis

Castilian: Bisbita pratense

Catalan: Titella

Gallego: Pica dos prados

Euskera: Negu-txirta

CLASIFICACIÓN:

Orden: Passeriformes

Family: Motacillidae

Migratory status: Winter resident

CONSERVATION STATUS:

On the National List of Threatened Species, it appears in the “Of Special Interest” category. In the 2004 edition of the Red Book of Spanish Birds (Libro Rojo de las Aves de España) it is listed as “Not Evaluated”.

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THREATS

In winter it is not considered threatened, but the reproductive population finds itself vulnerable due to its small size. It can also be affected by more general problems, such as the abuse of pesticides, winter droughts, and changes in land use.

Length / size: 15 cm / 24 cm

Identification: It has an appearance similar to the other pipits. Its back is brown (greenish at the beginning of autumn) with many streaks, its belly is dirty white and also striped, its flanks are orange in autumn and become lighter throughout winter, its tail is long with white external feathers, its throat is white, and its moustache is black. To distinguish it from other pipits, it is best to pay attention to the time of year, the bird's voice and details in its plumage, such as a less contrastive back or flanks with thicker streaks.

Song: It is unique and useful for identifying the bird. It makes a "bees-bees-beet" repetitively.

Diet: During breeding season, its diet is mostly composed of flies, mosquitoes and beetles smaller than 5 millimetres; in winter, although it eats many insects, it also consumes a considerable amount of seeds. It captures its prey by searching and pecking on the ground.

Reproduction: There is no information about its breeding habits in Spain, but in Europe it begins in April. The female incubates the eggs that it lays in a nest on the ground.

HABITAT

During breeding season it occupies pastureland with low brush; in winter it lives in any open area, such as irrigated land, sown land and pastureland.

DISTRIBUTION

In Spain: In winter it is distributed throughout the peninsula and the Balearic Islands; during breeding season, it is concentrated in places in the Cantabrian Mountains in Asturias, Cantabria, and possible Galicia and León.

In Castile and León: It is distributed throughout the entire community.

Movements and migrations: Its wintering in our latitudes occurs between October and March.

POPULATION

In Spain: No data is available, but it is thought that there are several million wintering specimens.

In Castile and León: