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| − | [[Image:Grey_Wagtail.jpg|thumb|550px|right| | + | [[Image:Grey_Wagtail.jpg|thumb|550px|right|''M. c. cinerea'', summer male<br />Photo © by {{user|Gabriel+Rasson|Gabriel Rasson}}<br />Liege, [[Belgium]], March 2004]] |
;[[:Category:Motacilla|Motacilla]] cinerea | ;[[:Category:Motacilla|Motacilla]] cinerea | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | Length 17-20 cm, weight 14-22 g | + | [[Image:Motacilla cinerea first winter.jpg|thumb|350px|right|''M. c. cinerea'', first-winter<br />Photo © by {{user|Nutcracker|Nutcracker}}<br />[[Northumberland]], [[UK]], January 2014]] |
| + | Length 17-20 cm (6¾-7¾ in), weight 14-22 g | ||
*A long-tailed wagtail, blue-grey above, mainly yellow below | *A long-tailed wagtail, blue-grey above, mainly yellow below | ||
*Brightest yellow on the under-tail [[Topography#General Anatomy|coverts]] | *Brightest yellow on the under-tail [[Topography#General Anatomy|coverts]] | ||
*White [[Topography#Heads|supercilium]] and [[Topography#Heads|moustachial]] streak | *White [[Topography#Heads|supercilium]] and [[Topography#Heads|moustachial]] streak | ||
| + | *Wings black, with white fringes on tertials | ||
*Tail black with white edges, wagged up-and-down nearly constantly | *Tail black with white edges, wagged up-and-down nearly constantly | ||
*Black bill (base of bill paler in young birds), dark pink legs | *Black bill (base of bill paler in young birds), dark pink legs | ||
| − | * | + | *Male has black throat in spring and summer; some (mainly older?) females can develop a mottled black throat |
| + | *Female, winter male and juvenile have a white to whitish-buff throat and underparts whiter, less intense yellow | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====Similar species==== | ||
| + | Often confused with [[Western Yellow Wagtail|Yellow Wagtail]] by beginners who expect Grey Wagtails from their name to be entirely grey, not partly yellow; Yellow Wagtail differs in having a shorter tail, and being greenish-yellow above, not grey. Its call is also very different, and habitat differs, mainly being a bird of wet lowland meadows, rarely by upland streams. [[Citrine Wagtail]] is more similar with its grey back, but differs in having an all-yellow (male) or yellow and greenish-yellow (female) head. | ||
| + | |||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | [[Image: | + | [[Image:MG 8112.JPG|thumb|350px|right|''M. c. cinerea'' in flight<br />Photo © by {{user|paul2610|paul2610}}<br />Elgin, [[Scotland]]]] |
Breeds from [[Europe]], northwest [[Africa]], and most of [[Asia]] east to Kamchatka, though absent from northeast Europe and northwest Asia between [[Sweden]] (where a recent colonist) and the Urals. In western Europe mainly sedentary, elsewhere migratory, wintering south-west to [[Gambia]], south to [[Ethiopia]], [[India]] and south-east to [[New Guinea]]. | Breeds from [[Europe]], northwest [[Africa]], and most of [[Asia]] east to Kamchatka, though absent from northeast Europe and northwest Asia between [[Sweden]] (where a recent colonist) and the Urals. In western Europe mainly sedentary, elsewhere migratory, wintering south-west to [[Gambia]], south to [[Ethiopia]], [[India]] and south-east to [[New Guinea]]. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| + | Aves – Birds, oiseaux | ||
| + | Perching Birds, passereaux | ||
====Subspecies==== | ====Subspecies==== | ||
| − | Three to six subspecies | + | [[Image:grey wagtail alok.JPG|thumb|350px|right|''M. c. melanope''<br />Photo © by {{user|aloktewari|Alok Tewari}}<br />District of Nainital, Alt. 1500 m, Uttarakhand [[Himalayas]], [[India]], April 2016]] |
| + | [[Image:GWT8811TEN1017.jpg|thumb|350px|right|''M. c. canariensis''<br />Photo © by {{user|mikibedi|mikibedi}}<br />Los Abrigos, South [[Tenerife]], October 2017]] | ||
| + | Three to six subspecies are accepted. Clements<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup> and IOC<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup> accept only three: | ||
*''M. c. cinerea'': | *''M. c. cinerea'': | ||
:*[[Eurasia]]; North [[Africa]], south-eastern [[Asia]], [[New Guinea]] | :*[[Eurasia]]; North [[Africa]], south-eastern [[Asia]], [[New Guinea]] | ||
| Line 23: | Line 34: | ||
Other authorities, including ''HBW''<sup>[[#References|[3]]]</sup>, split three additional subspecies from the nominate: | Other authorities, including ''HBW''<sup>[[#References|[3]]]</sup>, split three additional subspecies from the nominate: | ||
| − | |||
*''M. c. melanope'': | *''M. c. melanope'': | ||
:* Breeds northern [[Asia]] from the Ural Mountains east to the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk, south to the north-west, north and eastern [[Mongolia]] and eastern [[China]]; also in mountains from Tien Shan south to eastern [[Afghanistan]] and east along the [[Himalayas]]; winters north-eastern [[Africa]] and south-eastern [[Asia]] | :* Breeds northern [[Asia]] from the Ural Mountains east to the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk, south to the north-west, north and eastern [[Mongolia]] and eastern [[China]]; also in mountains from Tien Shan south to eastern [[Afghanistan]] and east along the [[Himalayas]]; winters north-eastern [[Africa]] and south-eastern [[Asia]] | ||
| Line 30: | Line 40: | ||
*''M. c. canariensis'': | *''M. c. canariensis'': | ||
:*[[Canary Islands]] | :*[[Canary Islands]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | The subspecies differ only slightly, with a small clinal decrease in tail length from west to east. The subspecies on the Atlantic island groups are slightly darker grey above, and more saturated yellow below<sup>[[#References|[3]]]</sup>. | ||
| + | |||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Breeds by fast-flowing streams in rocky upland areas; more closely tied to running water than other wagtails. In winter, a little more widespread away from water, including in city centres. | Breeds by fast-flowing streams in rocky upland areas; more closely tied to running water than other wagtails. In winter, a little more widespread away from water, including in city centres. | ||
| Line 35: | Line 48: | ||
Hyperactive, with constantly bobbing tail. | Hyperactive, with constantly bobbing tail. | ||
====Flight==== | ====Flight==== | ||
| − | Undulating flight. Often hovers when feeding in | + | Undulating flight. Often hovers when feeding in tree canopies and over water. |
====Diet==== | ====Diet==== | ||
Aquatic and waterside invertebrates, including insects (often caught in flycatching sallies), small freshwater shrimps, and also occasionally small fish fry. | Aquatic and waterside invertebrates, including insects (often caught in flycatching sallies), small freshwater shrimps, and also occasionally small fish fry. | ||
| Line 43: | Line 56: | ||
'''Call''': a sharp tzt-tzt, much more incisive and harder than [[White Wagtail]].<br /> | '''Call''': a sharp tzt-tzt, much more incisive and harder than [[White Wagtail]].<br /> | ||
'''Song''': | '''Song''': | ||
| − | + | {{ Audio|Motacilla cinerea (song).mp3 }} | |
| − | + | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref- | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug18}}#{{Ref-GillDonsker14V4.3}}#{{Ref-HBWVol9}} |
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
| − | {{GSearch|Motacilla | + | {{GSearch|"Motacilla cinerea" {{!}} "Grey Wagtail"}} |
| + | <br /> | ||
| + | {{VSearch|"Motacilla cinerea" {{!}} "Grey Wagtail"}} | ||
| + | {{GS-checked}}1 | ||
| + | <br /> | ||
<br /> | <br /> | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Motacilla]][[Category:Bird Songs]][[Category:Videos]] | + | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Motacilla]][[Category:Bird Songs]] [[Category:Videos]] |
Latest revision as of 20:23, 15 September 2023
- Motacilla cinerea
Identification
Length 17-20 cm (6¾-7¾ in), weight 14-22 g
- A long-tailed wagtail, blue-grey above, mainly yellow below
- Brightest yellow on the under-tail coverts
- White supercilium and moustachial streak
- Wings black, with white fringes on tertials
- Tail black with white edges, wagged up-and-down nearly constantly
- Black bill (base of bill paler in young birds), dark pink legs
- Male has black throat in spring and summer; some (mainly older?) females can develop a mottled black throat
- Female, winter male and juvenile have a white to whitish-buff throat and underparts whiter, less intense yellow
Similar species
Often confused with Yellow Wagtail by beginners who expect Grey Wagtails from their name to be entirely grey, not partly yellow; Yellow Wagtail differs in having a shorter tail, and being greenish-yellow above, not grey. Its call is also very different, and habitat differs, mainly being a bird of wet lowland meadows, rarely by upland streams. Citrine Wagtail is more similar with its grey back, but differs in having an all-yellow (male) or yellow and greenish-yellow (female) head.
Distribution
Breeds from Europe, northwest Africa, and most of Asia east to Kamchatka, though absent from northeast Europe and northwest Asia between Sweden (where a recent colonist) and the Urals. In western Europe mainly sedentary, elsewhere migratory, wintering south-west to Gambia, south to Ethiopia, India and south-east to New Guinea.
Taxonomy
Aves – Birds, oiseaux Perching Birds, passereaux
Subspecies
M. c. melanope
Photo © by Alok Tewari
District of Nainital, Alt. 1500 m, Uttarakhand Himalayas, India, April 2016
Photo © by Alok Tewari
District of Nainital, Alt. 1500 m, Uttarakhand Himalayas, India, April 2016
Three to six subspecies are accepted. Clements[1] and IOC[2] accept only three:
- M. c. cinerea:
- Eurasia; North Africa, south-eastern Asia, New Guinea
- M. c. patriciae:
- Azores (Furnas and São Miguel)
- M. c. schmitzi:
Other authorities, including HBW[3], split three additional subspecies from the nominate:
- M. c. melanope:
- Breeds northern Asia from the Ural Mountains east to the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk, south to the north-west, north and eastern Mongolia and eastern China; also in mountains from Tien Shan south to eastern Afghanistan and east along the Himalayas; winters north-eastern Africa and south-eastern Asia
- M. c. robusta:
- Breeds extreme eastern Asia from eastern Russia, south to Korea and Japan; winters south to Greater and Lesser Sundas and New Guinea
- M. c. canariensis:
The subspecies differ only slightly, with a small clinal decrease in tail length from west to east. The subspecies on the Atlantic island groups are slightly darker grey above, and more saturated yellow below[3].
Habitat
Breeds by fast-flowing streams in rocky upland areas; more closely tied to running water than other wagtails. In winter, a little more widespread away from water, including in city centres.
Behaviour
Hyperactive, with constantly bobbing tail.
Flight
Undulating flight. Often hovers when feeding in tree canopies and over water.
Diet
Aquatic and waterside invertebrates, including insects (often caught in flycatching sallies), small freshwater shrimps, and also occasionally small fish fry.
Breeding
The nest is built in rock crevices, often next to (or even behind) a waterfall.
Vocalisation
Call: a sharp tzt-tzt, much more incisive and harder than White Wagtail.
Song:
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2014. IOC World Bird Names (version 4.3). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and D Christie, eds. 2004. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 9: Cotingas to Pipits and Wagtails. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334696
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Grey Wagtail. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 2 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Grey_Wagtail
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
