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The 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.
There is a narrow, broken eye-ring
and a pale supercilium. The outer tail feathers are creamy,
rather than
white, and the legs look dark at long range and pinkie-red close-up
(bright pinkie-orange on the Meadow Pipit).
When disturbed while feeding, it
flutters about, frequently repeating its note,
settles on a rock or stone, or
on the grass, keeps vibrating its body,
and waits
until the intruder departs.
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