Rock Pipit photographed at Pleinmont on 0/0/0 Photo: © Paul Hillion (visit site)

As with the Meadow Pipit, the status of Rock Pipits in the Bailiwick has changed little over the past century. It can be found on all the main islands and also breeds on many of the smaller islets, including Les Burons and L'Etac de Serq in Sark and several of the larger Humps off Herm. During the Guernsey Breeding Bird Survey, Rock Pipits were slightly more widespread than Meadow Pipits, ocurring in 13 out of 23 squares. Birds occur all round the islands, both in low-lying sandy areas and also on in areas of cliffland.

In winter, Rock Pipits congregate on piles of rotting vraic on tidelines, areas of short rabbit-grazed coastal turf and in the few areas of sand-dunes remaining on the islands. Numbers appear to rise in winter and ringing has shown that large numbers can pass through one site. This influx of birds is due to migrants from further north arriving in the islands as it is unlikely that all the birds seen in winter could all be local resident birds.