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The following table outlines the potential features useful in the separation of spinoletta and littoralis in breeding plumage.

	SPINOLETTA	LITTORALIS
HEAD	grey to greyish/brown with a distinct and sharply defined whitish supercilium in most (but not all!), malar stripe and patch usually absent or very faint, throat whitish but may even be washed brownish/pink	can be quite greyish with a distinct supercilium although very rarely as distinct, sharply defined and as whitish as spinoletta, that of littoralis is more often poorly marked and less obvious over the lores, malar stripe and patch often still relatively prominent, the former reaching the base of the bill
UPPERPARTS	greyish/brown to purer grey on mantle and scapulars and may show diffuse slightly darker streaks but often looks entirely plain, back, rump and upper-tail coverts unstreaked and much more obviously warmer brown, often contrastingly so against the greyer mantle	may appear quite pure grey on the mantle and scapulars (especially in extreme birds), usually more obviously darker streaked on the mantle (and often faintly so on the back) but the back, rump and upper-tail coverts usually always showing a characteristic greenish tinge
UNDERPARTS	breast, belly and upper flanks pinkish (of variable intensity), rest of underparts whitish, although breast streaking variable with some individuals still retaining some remnants, many have underpart streaking completely absent	although reduced breast streaking and pinkish colouration can sometimes approach that of some spinoletta, still has atleast some typically diffuse and messy flank streaks, base colouration appearing less white than spinoletta
WINGS	remiges lack olive tones, edges usually warmer, buffish to almost whitish	usually definite olive tones to the edges of the tertials, some greater coverts and primaries

It is also worth bearing in mind that a small minority of Water Pipits appear to remain in non-breeding (like) plumage throughout the year and do not attain the characteristic breeding plumage even on the breeding grounds.

Above: Water Pipits (spinoletta), Warton Bank, Lancashire, 31.03.02 (Bill Aspin). The individuals in both upper images have attained almost full breeding plumage apart from one or two characteristically fine and well defined streaks on the underparts. Both birds are beautifully coloured with a greyish head complete with a large and 'full' supercilium and brightly coloured pinkish on the throat and breast, note the absence of any malar stripes or patches. The bird in the lower image is still moulting but displays similar features without the pinkish on the underparts.

Above: Water Pipit (spinoletta), Broome Gravel Pits, Bedfordshire, 09.04.04 (Steve Blain). The flank streaking still visible here is typically fine and distinct, unlike that of Rock Pipit, the head is very greyish and appears unstreaked and the bird lacks any malar stripe.

Above: Water Pipit (spinoletta, same individual as Fig. ), Broome Gravel Pits, Bedfordshire, 10.04.02 (Steve Blain). Note the broad supercilium, typical flank streaks and especially the warm brownish back, rump upper-tail coverts and (a little more greyish/brown) mantle, which contrasts well against the greyish head.

Above: Water Pipit (spinoletta, same individual as Fig. & ), Broome Gravel Pits, Bedfordshire, 11.04.02 (Steve Blain). A handsome bird in breeding plumage, even in this pose the bird displays the pro-spinoletta characteristics of a broad and full whitish supercilium, no malar stripe or patch and the rear flanks streaks, only just visible here, are still typical and obviously set against a white ground colour. The rump feathering, just exposed slightly underneath the primaries, also appears typically warm brown.

Above: Breeding plumaged Water Pipits (left three spinoletta, right two coutelli). All these birds have obtained their distinctive pinkish underparts which is more extensive that on littoralis, although a few still have remnants of breast streaks.

Above: Breeding plumaged Water Pipits (spinoletta). Even on these skins the contrast between the greyish head and the warmer brown mantle is obvious. (Ian McKerchar)

Above: Breeding plumaged Water Pipit (left, spinoletta) and Scandinavian Rock Pipit (right, littoralis, a specimen from Norway in June). Both pipits still have remnants of breast streaking, although that on the littoralis still appears larger and less well defined. The flank streaking (especially visible on both left sides of the skins) is clearly fine and well defined on the spinoletta whilst those on the littoralis are broader, less well defined around the edges and more extensive along the flanks. (Ian McKerchar)

Above: Breeding plumaged Water Pipit (left) and Scandinavian Rock Pipit (right, same pair Fig. 40 above). On this close up of the breast and head the pinkish colouration on the breast is more intense around the very upper-breast on the littoralis (and is more brownish/pink), yet on the spinoletta is more evenly distributed (and a purer pink). The littoralis still has conspicuous malar stripes clearly reaching the base of the bill, whilst the spinoletta has a clear, white throat. (Ian McKerchar)