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Grey Wagtail

Motacilla cinerea

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Field Notes

Description:

The Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) is a small member of the wagtail family, Motacillidae. The species looks similar to the Yellow Wagtail but has the yellow on its underside restricted to the throat and vent. Breeding males have a black throat. The species is widely distributed, with several populations breeding in Europe and Asia and migrating to tropical regions in Asia and Africa. They are usually seen on open marshy ground or meadows where they walk solitarily or in pairs along the ground, capturing insects that are disturbed. Like other wagtails, they frequently wag their tail and fly low with undulations and they have a sharp call that is often given in flight.

Species ID Suggestions

Grey Wagtail

Motacilla cinerea

Comments (3)

When I saw the thumbnail, I thought maybe it was the pied wagtail which I saw last year. When it wasn't, I had to go digging :)

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Photographed
PublishedNovember 27, 2011

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