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Grey Wagtail![]() Size: 18-19 cm; wingspan: 25-27 cm Weight: 14-25 g |
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Similar |
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Photos |
Race "cinerea"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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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]
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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]
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FEMALE |
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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]
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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]
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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"
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ADULT |
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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.
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Behaviour |
We have noticed that Grey Wagtails are not as strong as White Wagtails, leading to them being chased away, if spotted.
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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]