
Photo: Bärbel Miemietz · CC BY-SA 4.0
Anthus trivialis
Diet
Insects, also seeds
Habitat
Breeds in open woodland and scrub; nests on the ground
Range
Breeds across Europe and the Palearctic east to the East Siberian Mountains; winters in Africa and southern Asia
Clutch size
4–6 eggs
Incubation period
12–14 days; chicks leave the nest after 12–14 days
The tree pipit is a small, undistinguished-looking passerine that resembles the meadow pipit, with brown stripes above and black markings on white underparts and a buff breast; it differs from the slightly smaller meadow pipit in its heavier bill and greater contrast between the buff breast and white belly. It breeds through most of Europe and the Palearctic as far east as the East Siberian Mountains, in open woodland and scrub (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is a long-distance migrant, wintering in Africa and southern Asia. It is insectivorous but also eats seeds. The call is a strong spek, and the song flight is unmistakable: the bird rises a short distance from a tree and parachutes down on stiff wings as the song draws out. The female builds the nest on the ground and incubates the four to six eggs, and both parents feed the chicks (Wikipedia, general species account).