Grey wagtail
Motacilla cinerea
CommonPhoto: gailhampshire from Cradley, Malvern, U.K · CC BY 2.0
Birdinsectivore
The grey wagtail is a slender, lively bird that bobs its tail as it hops along streams and rivers. Found across Europe and Asia, it migrates to warmer parts of Africa and Asia in winter. Its bright yellow belly and habit of nesting near rushing water make it easy to spot.
- Grows to about 18-19 cm long, with males sporting a black throat in breeding season.
- Prefers fast-flowing streams for nesting but visits lakes and coasts in winter.
- Flies low with a fluttering, up-and-down motion while giving sharp calls.
FreshwaterWetlandUrbanEuropeAsiaAfrica
Read more on WikipediaAt a glance
- Classification
- Bird
- Scientific name
- Motacilla cinerea
- Habitat
- Freshwater, Wetland, Urban
- Regions in this directory
- Europe, Asia, Africa
- Diet
- insectivore
- Relative size
- small
- IUCN Red List
- Least Concern (LC)