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Grey Wagtail
(Motacilla cinerea)
Size: 18-19 cm
Weight: 14-25 g
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Similar
species |
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
The plumage of Grey
Wagtails is dimorphic,
i.e. males
and
females
are different.
During the breeding season,
male
Grey Wagtails have a black
throat patch lined by white edges on the sides. The rest of
the front, from chest to undertail coverts, is bright-yellow.
Apart from prominent white eyebrows, the head and back are
all slate-grey. Only the flight feathers are dark-grey, with
white edge lining. The uppertail is dark-grey, the undertail
light-grey.
Males in eclipse resemble
females.
Female
Grey Wagtails - and males in eclipse - have a prominent
white wing bar and otherwise duller colours (a paler yellow front,
lighter grey throughout) than
males.
They do not have a black throat patch, but the throat can be
mottled in some individuals.
The eyes have dark irises. The slender, straight bill is dark-grey;
the legs and feet are greyish-pink.
Juveniles
are more brownish on the back and mostly creamy on the front.
Only the undertail coverts and part of the breast are yellowish.
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Twitcher's tip |
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The plumages of
all members of the Motacilla family
of wagtails vary between the sexes, but also with season and age.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Grey
Wagtail at Wikipedia  .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
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The global distribution of the Grey Wagtail is available
HERE
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Grey Wagtails have a very wide-ranging distribution, from
the Azores in the northern Atlantic in the West to the
coastline of the Bering Sea in far-eastern Siberia in the East.
Grey Wagtails, nominate race "cinerea", breed in western
(including the British Isles), central and southern
Europe
(all the Mediterranean countries), plus parts
of Denmark and the southern Scandinavian coastline.
There are also small patches in the western Atlas mountain
range and from the coastal regions of Asia Minor into
south-western Asia (Iraq, Iran). In summertime they
disperse into breeding grounds in eastern Europe,
around the Caucasus mountains and into central Asia.
They winter in parts of the European Mediterranean coastal
areas, the Benelux countries, central Asia Minor, along the
northern African coastline, the Middle Eastern Mediterranean
coastline and also around the Red Sea, including
Arabia.
Race "robusta"
breeds in Siberia, Korea and Japan, and winters
in south-eastern Asia, rarely also in Australia.
Other races are mainly found on island groups or are in dispute.
Grey Wagtails, race "robusta", are
listed as rare vagrants to the Australian continent from
the North. There are a number of sightings in both the
Top End of the NT and Cape York peninsula and even in
Alice Springs, NT, and Adelaide, SA.
Grey Wagtails are usually found along watercourses such as fast-flowing
creeks.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "robusta"
P. Brown reports finding a Grey Wagtail, race "robusta",
at the Botanic Gardens, Darwin, NT, in March 2019.
All sighting and photographic information presented on this
page has kindly been contributed by P. Brown.
Race "cinerea"
Grey Wagtails, nominate race "cinerea",
were found by us in
Oman.
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Photos |
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Race "robusta"
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ADULT |
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FEMALE |
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BREEDING |
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Near-lateral view of a female Grey Wagtail in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Botanical Gardens, Darwin, NT, March 2019]
Near-dorsal view of a female Grey Wagtail in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Botanical Gardens, Darwin, NT, March 2019]
Near-dorsal/ventral view of a female Grey Wagtail in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Botanical Gardens, Darwin, NT, March 2019]
Race "cinerea"
Photos of Grey Wagtails, nominate race "cinerea",
were taken by us in
Oman.
| Social behaviour: Territorial |
Mobility: Vagrant |
Elementary unit: Solitary/pair |
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Food, Diet |
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Like all other wagtails known to us, Grey Wagtails are insect hunters.
They take their prey from the ground or the surface of fresh water.
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors.
The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Call/s
