Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinerea
The Grey Wagtail is a slender bird with a distinctive appearance, commonly seen in Britain near fast-flowing streams and rivers, particularly during the breeding season. It can be spotted throughout the year, although its numbers may fluctuate as some populations migrate to tropical regions in Asia and Africa.
Field Identification Guide
Use these features to identify Grey Wagtail in the field.
The Grey Wagtail can be identified by its grey back, white underside with a yellow throat and vent, and a black throat patch in breeding males. Its long, black tail with white outer feathers is also a notable feature, and it often wags its tail up and down.
The Grey Wagtail is slightly smaller than a Starling, measuring around 18-19 cm in length.
The male Grey Wagtail has a grey back, white belly, and a yellow throat and vent, with a distinctive black throat patch during the breeding season. Outside of breeding, the black throat patch may be less pronounced or absent.
The female Grey Wagtail is similar to the male but lacks the black throat patch, and may have a more subdued colouration overall.
The Grey Wagtail has a sharp, high-pitched call, often given in flight, which sounds like a repeated "zit" or "tsit" sound.
Grey Wagtails are often seen flying low over water, with a characteristic undulating flight pattern, and they frequently wag their tails as they move along streams and rivers in search of insects and other small invertebrates.
The Grey Wagtail can be confused with the Yellow Wagtail, but it can be distinguished by its grey back and restricted yellow colouration to the throat and vent, whereas the Yellow Wagtail has a more extensive yellow plumage.
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