Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinera) species information page

Grey Wagtail - Motacilla cinera

Widespread and resident, common to most of the British Isles but a summer visitor to Northern Scotland, found over most of Europe, Turkey and the Middle East. Size 18-20cm (7-8in), with a very long tail, grey back, yellow breast, males ♂ have a black chin. In the winter both sexes show much less yellow on the breast. Feeds on insects but occasionally takes small fish, minnows etc. Habits streams and small rivers, canals and other waterways, and in the winter time they can be found at pond margins. It has the characteristic vertical tail wagging gait that gives the bird it's name. They are not as shy as other waterside birds, and can be confused with Yellow Wagtails (Motacilla flava) which are very similar in apperance but have a yellow head, are smaller in size with a shorter tail, and only resident during the summer.

Several sub-species exist :-

M. melanope, samller with a shorter tail.
M. patriciae, has a longer bill but is smaller and shorter tailed like M. melanope, also darker on the back.
M. schmitzi, very similar but darker still and narrow white supercilium is mainly behind eye.
M. canariensis, are deeper yellow below than M. cinera with more black on tail.

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