BirdUp · Species
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinereaTunstall, 1771
- Order
- PASSERIFORMES
- Family
- Motacillidae
- Genus
- Motacilla
- Commonness
- Very common
- Best seen
- Year-round
01 · Identification
How to tell it apart
The grey wagtail is a member of the wagtail family, Motacillidae, measuring around 18–19 cm overall length. The species looks somewhat 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 Eurosiberia and migrating to tropical regions in Asia and Africa. The species is always associated with running water when breeding, although they may use man-made structures near streams for the nest. Outside the breeding season, they may also be seen around lakes, coasts and other watery habitats. 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.
Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
02 · Where
Where to find it
- Breeding range
- PAL, OR : widespread Europe and Macaronesia south to north-west Africa and east to east Russia through Mongolia, north-east China, Korean Pen., and Kyushu (south Japan); also east Kazakhstan to Afghanistan and west and central Himalayas
- Non-breeding range
- AF, OR : north and east Africa to south and south-east Asia, Ryukyu Is. (south Japan), Philippines, Indonesian Arch., New Guinea and outlying north-west Australian is.
03 · When
When to look
Months this species is recorded across its Australian range.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
05 · Behaviour
Habits and haunts
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