What they like

Open land with a view. Scrubby areas, herb-rich grassland, heath, dunes, dikes. A few low shrubs or posts as lookout points are enough. Leave a corner in the garden or park “messy”: mow less, let the grass grow a bit taller, leave some seed-bearing stalks. On farmyards and farmland: herb-rich field margins, extensive verge management, don’t keep everything tidily trimmed. Prefer a mosaic: some short patches, some tall.

Ecological importance

An insect-eater with discerning taste. Takes beetles, flies, caterpillars and grasshoppers from the grass and ground. Feeds these to its young. Fewer insects = fewer tree pipits. It is itself prey for raptors; open landscapes only work if there is enough cover and food.

When in the Netherlands

Breeding bird from April to August. It migrates; we have to do without it in winter.

Status

Species of concern: declining in many areas due to impoverishment and overly tidy management. More herbs, more insects, more tree pipits.