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  • Grey wagtail

Grey wagtail

Grey wagtail (male)
Grey wagtail (male)
Grey wagtail (female)
Grey wagtail (female)
  • Scientific name: Motacilla cinerea
  • Bird family: Pipits and wagtails
  • UK conservation status: Amber
  • Protected by The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

Grey wagtail call audio

Your browser does not support this audio feature.

Patrik Aberg, Xeno-canto

Key information

The grey wagtail is more colourful than its name suggests with slate grey upper parts and distinctive lemon yellow under-tail. Its tail is noticeably longer than those of pied and yellow wagtails. They have gradually increased their range in the past 150 years and in the UK have expanded into the English lowlands from the northern and western uplands.

What they eat:

Insects

Measurements:

Length:
18-19cm
Wingspan:
25-27cm
Weight:
14-22g

Population:

UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.
UK breeding:
38,000 pairs

Identifying features:

This bird species has different identifying features depending on sex/age/season.

Grey wagtail (male)

Male grey wagtail
Feather colour: Black Cream/buff Grey White Yellow
Leg colour: Brown Pink
Beak: Black Short Thin
Natural habitats: Marine and intertidal Upland Urban and suburban Wetland

Grey wagtail (female)

Grey wagtail female
Feather colour: Black Cream/buff Grey White Yellow
Leg colour: Brown Pink
Beak: Black Short Thin
Natural habitats: Marine and intertidal Upland Urban and suburban Wetland

Similar birds:

Adult pied wagtail
Pied wagtail
Yellow wagtail
Yellow wagtail

Where and when to see them

Grey wagtails are found over most of the UK, with the exception of the Northern and western isles of Scotland. Likes fast-flowing rivers in summer their greatest densities are in the hills of England, Scotland and Wales. In winter they can be seen around farmyards and lowland streams, even in city centres. Scarce in central and eastern England in summer and from upland areas in winter.

* This map is intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.
  • Resident
  • Passage
  • Summer
  • Winter
Grey wagtail distribution map

Grey wagtails can be seen all year round.

  • jan
  • feb
  • mar
  • apr
  • may
  • jun
  • jul
  • aug
  • sep
  • oct
  • nov
  • dec

RSPB reserves

  • RSPB Cwm Clydach

In more depth

Attract and identify

Attract and identify

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