Motacilla cinerea
The Grey Wagtail, *Motacilla cinerea*, is a slender and elegant passerine measuring approximately 18-20 cm in length, including its notably long tail which accounts for about half its total length, with a wingspan of 25-27 cm and weighing 14-22 grams. Its most striking feature is its constant, rhythmic tail-wagging, earning it the common name 'wagtail.' Adults exhibit slate-grey upperparts, a conspicuous white supercilium, a yellowish-green rump, and bright lemon-yellow underparts, especially...
Primarily inhabits fast-flowing rivers, streams, and rocky coastlines; also found near artificial waterways, reservoirs, and damp meadows, typically at lower to mid-elevations but up to 3000m in mountainous regions.
Feeds predominantly on aquatic and terrestrial insects such as mayflies, caddisflies, beetles, and flies, supplemented by small crustaceans and larvae. Forages by gleaning, snatching, and short aerial pursuits along water edges.
Grey Wagtails are diurnal and highly active birds, typically roosting communally in dense vegetation or reeds near water during colder months. Their foraging strategy involves walking or running along riverbanks and shallow water, snatching insects from the surface, gleaning them from stones, or ...
The Grey Wagtail boasts a vast breeding range across the Palearctic, extending from Western Europe (including the UK and Scandinavia) eastward through Central Asia, the Himalayas, and into East Asia, reaching as far as Japan and Korea. During the non-breeding season, populations migrate south to ...
Least Concern
- The Grey Wagtail's scientific name, *Motacilla cinerea*, combines 'motacilla' (Latin for 'little mover' or 'wagtail') with 'cinerea' (Latin for 'ash-colored'), referencing its distinct grey back. - Its famous tail-wagging behavior is thought to serve multiple purposes, including flushing out in...