Wagtails (1 Viewer)

[helenol]

I'm getting confused.

Is a pied wagtail the "British version" of the "continental white wagtail"? Are they one and the same?

Seen in Luxembourg 1st May.

 

[HH75]

Hi Helen,
Yes,the White Wagtail is Motacilla alba alba(the nominate race of the species),with the British(and Irish!!) Pied Wagtail merely being a race(M.alba yarrellii) of that species.Nice pic,btw!
Harry

 

[helenol]

Thanks for that Harry. Do we get the white wagtail in the British Isles too?

 

[HH75]

Hi Helen,
White Wagtail occurs in Britain and Ireland in spring and autumn as a passage migrant,probably involving the Icelandic population mainly.
Harry

 

[mike coleman]

Hi Helen,
White Wagtail occurs in Britain and Ireland in spring and autumn as a passage migrant,probably involving the Icelandic population mainly.
Harry

In the north of Scotland, there are good numbers around at the moment, some will hang around most of the summer, most will go in the next month. They are often found along shores and coastlines. I guess further south along the coasts there will also be a few now.

 

[Jane Turner]

They went through the Irish Sea coast in huge numbers about two weeks back..

If you want some homerwork - here are the previous discussions!

Dull female White Wagtail; ***White Wagtail with illustrated discussion on how to tell from Pied; White Wagtail; **Pied Wagtail juvenile with explanation of why its not a White Wagtail; *White x Pied Wagtail,

 

[mike coleman]

Blimey Jane, you have a library of stuff larger than the local, err......library.

 

[Jane Turner]

Ita a bye-product of indexing all the ID threads!

 

[mike coleman]

I certainly know where to come for anybody that has had similar ID nightmares then........oops, red wine on the trousers. Not good.

 

[Jane Turner]

better in the mouth I find "cheers"