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24

Grey Wagtail

(Motacilla cinerea)
German name(s): "Gebirgsstelze", "Bergstelze"
Size: 18-19 cm; wingspan: 25-27 cm
Weight: 14-25 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Grey Wagtail at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "cinerea"

ADULT

MALE

BREEDING

Lateral/ventral view of a male Grey Wagtail in almost complete breeding plumage (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Martinsthal, Hessen, Germany, April 2023]

NON-BREEDING

Near-frontal view of a male(?) Grey Wagtail in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Wadebridge, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Near-frontal view of a male(?) Grey Wagtail in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Wadebridge, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Lateral view of a male(?) Grey Wagtail in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Wadebridge, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a male(?) Grey Wagtail in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Wadebridge, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

FEMALE

BREEDING

Near-lateral view of a female Grey Wagtail in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

Near-lateral view of a female Grey Wagtail in breeding plumage carrying plenty of nesting material (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2019]

Lateral view of a female Grey Wagtail in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, December 2017]

Lateral view of a female Grey Wagtail in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Split, Croatia, September 2019]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a female Grey Wagtail in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

NON-BREEDING

Near-frontal view of a female Grey Wagtail in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Wadebridge, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Near-lateral view of a female Grey Wagtail in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River near Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

Lateral view of a female Grey Wagtail moulting into non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a female Grey Wagtail in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River near Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

Dorsal view of a female Grey Wagtail in non-breeding plumage looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, November 2021]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of a first-winter Grey Wagtail - note the mauve chest (photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Parc des Buttes Chaumonts, 19th district, Paris, France, November 2019]

Lateral view of a first-winter Grey Wagtail - note the pink base of the lower mandible (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Wadebridge, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

More photos of Grey Wagtails, race "cinerea", were taken by us in Oman.

Race "patriciae"

ADULT

NON-BREEDING

Sex unknown

Near-frontal view of a Grey Wagtail in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Horta Island, Azores, November 2018]

Near-lateral view of a Grey Wagtail in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Pico Island, Azores, November 2018]

Near-lateral view of a Grey Wagtail in non-breeding plumage with its tail cocked prominently (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Horta Island, Azores, November 2018]

Lateral view of a Grey Wagtail in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sao Jorge Island, Azores, November 2018]

Lateral view of a Grey Wagtail in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sao Jorge Island, Azores, November 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Grey Wagtail in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Horta Island, Azores, November 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Grey Wagtail in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Horta Island, Azores, November 2018]

Race "robusta"

Photos of Grey Wagtails, race "robusta", were taken by us in Australia.

Behaviour

We have noticed that Grey Wagtails are not as strong as White Wagtails, leading to them being chased away, if spotted.

Food, Diet

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.

Frontal view of a female Grey Wagtail with its prey, a flying insect (photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Foix, Occitanie, France, June 2021]

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.

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