Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta) is one of the four representatives of the genus that have been seen breeding in Slovenia. It is only slightly larger than the house sparrow, but because of its slender long bill and long legs and tail it appears larger. When stretched out it measures about 16 cm and is somewhat bulkier than the other pipits.
In summer it is characterized by a gray head, nape and cheeks, a white superciliary line and throat, a black line across the eyes, and a completely blackish bill, pale pinkish chest and white belly. From the other pipits we will distinguish it by the uniformly gray-brown back. The wings are black and brown longitudinally striped. In flight there are also two narrow white stripes on the wings and white sides of the tail, which are separated from the light brown center of the tail by two black bands. In winter the color of its plumage fades. The pink color of the chest is replaced by dirty white, the chest and flanks are adorned with longitudinal black lines, which are not present in summer. Also its bill changes color in winter – the base and its lower part become stained dirty yellow.
Water Pipit is a rare inhabitant of our mountain pastures and meadows above the forest line. It breeds in May and June on grassy slopes in high mountains. It builds a nest from plant material on the ground and hides it in a tuft of grass.
Water Pipit is active by day. Insects, their larvae and other invertebrates are most often gathered from the ground and from low vegetation while walking, here and there sometimes rising briefly into the air for a flying insect. It is a migratory species that moves from its breeding areas to lower elevations as winter approaches. It overwinters on freshwater wetlands, along rivers and lakes, and also along the coast, for example at salt pans. Thus it can be found in Slovenia throughout the year, but not in the same places.
