Page 287 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

PIPITS AND WAGTAILS
Order Passeriformes Family Motacillidae Species Motacilla alba
Pied Wagtail black cap, chin, and

throat (white chin whitish
and throat outside face
breeding season)
white streaks
blackish on wings
rump black back black
greyer back breast
than male’s
MALE sooty
(SUMMER)
flanks
FEMALE
(PIED)
white belly
IN FLIGHT
greyer head and
upperparts than
adult male’s
long, white-edged
black tail
buffish
below
MALE
JUVENILE
(SUMMER; PIED)
idespread and familiar, the Pied (or White) Wagtail is frequently
Wseen in and around towns, often feeding on areas of tarmac, FLIGHT: quick, direct, with long undulating bounds
concrete, or stone slabs. It is also frequently seen on roofs, from which and bursts of wingbeats.
it typically calls before moving off: its call is a useful
indicator of its presence. In summer, it can be found SUBSPECIES
anywhere from builder’s yards and woodsheds to M. a. alba
remote quarries and natural cliffs and along stony river (mainland Europe)
or lake sides.Although creating few identification pale grey
problems, its non-breeding plumages are quite complex. back
VOICE Calls loud, musical chrip, chuwee, chrruwee, and MALE
variants, merging into harder, unmusical tissik or chiswit;
song mixes similar calls and trills.
NESTING Grassy cup in cavity in bank, cliff, or greyer
woodpile, in outbuilding or under bridge; 5 or 6 eggs; browner cap
2 or 3 broods;April–August. wings with
white bars
FEEDING Feeds very actively on ground, roofs, or COMMUNAL ROOST JUVENILE
waterside mud or rocks, walking, running, leaping up Pied Wagtails sometimes roost
or sideways, or flying in pursuit of flies; takes insects, in hundreds in trees in town
molluscs, and some seeds. centres or inside factories.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeds throughout Europe; found
GREY WAGTAIL 32; YELLOW WAGTAIL only in summer in N and E Europe
yellow rump; juvenile, similar to
see p.287 juvenile; different but widespread in winter. Very
call; see p.286 varied habitat, often near water
and in built-up areas, feeding on
browner
car parks, pavements, and roof-
yellow tops, but not usually in gardens.
under tail
Seen in the UK
J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 18cm (7in) Wingspan 25–30cm (10–12in) Weight 19–27g ( 11 ⁄16 – 7 ⁄8oz)
Social Winter flocks Lifespan Up to 5 years Status Secure
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