Plumage variation of Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus littoralis and Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta in winter plumage

Authors

  • Reino Andersson

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34080/os.v22.22594

Keywords:

intraspecific variation, appearance, identification, morphology

Abstract

Plumage variation in nine neutral (i. e. not concerning colour hues) characters was studied from October through February in 77 Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus littoralis and 47 Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta in southern Sweden. The Rock Pipit generally showed more variation than the Water Pipit. Several characters were overlapping between the species, while especially streaking on the underparts significantly distinguished between them. The most reliable differences concerned the width and sharpness of the streaks on the lower breast, and on the anterior and, especially, rear flanks, the Water Pipit having considerably thinner and more clearcut streaks than Rock Pipit.

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Published

2012-01-01

How to Cite

Andersson, R. (2012). Plumage variation of Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus littoralis and Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta in winter plumage. Ornis Svecica, 22(1–2), 33–38. https://doi.org/10.34080/os.v22.22594

Issue

Section

Research Papers