Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinerea

>> GENERAL >>>>>

– sparrow-sized passerine, with very long tail
– diurnal migrant, nocturnal movements have been recorded
– migrates singly or in small very loose flocks

>> VISUAL ID >>>>>


Grey Wagtail Motacilla c. cinerea
BIF2751, 09/10/2018, Helgoland, Germany, Roland Neumann


Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea melanope, AD M
BIF2561, 31/08/2017, Dornod, Mongolia, Mathias Putze


Grey Wagtail Motacilla c. cinerea
BIF7003, 15/09/2020, Falsterbo, Sweden, Mathias Putze


Grey Wagtail Motacilla c. cinerea , F
BIF2932, 04/04/2019, North Sea, offshore, Roland Neumann


Grey Wagtail Motacilla c. cinerea , F
BIF2933, 04/04/2019, North Sea, offshore, Roland Neumann


Grey Wagtail Motacilla c. cinerea
BIF2752, 07/10/2018, Helgoland, Germany, Roland Neumann


Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea melanope, AD M
BIF2562, 30/08/2017, Dornod, Mongolia, Mathias Putze

>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>

– very vocal
– flight call a steep overslur, uttered as single calls or in series
– sounds harder, more metallic than similar White Wagtail flight call, but sometimes hard to distinguish


Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea melanope, call in flight
BIF2557, 29/05/2013, Uliastai, Mongolia, Patrick Franke


Grey Wagtail Motacilla c. cinerea, call in flight
BIF2558, 20/01/2017, Ölzschau, Germany, Patrick Franke


Grey Wagtail Motacilla c. cinerea, call in flight
BIF2559, 02/04/2017, Terpitz, Germany, Patrick Franke


Grey Wagtail Motacilla c. cinerea, call in flight
BIF2560, 24/09/2017, Haselbacher Teiche, Germany, Patrick Franke

>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>

Western Yellow Wagtail (v)
Eastern Yellow Wagtail (v)
Citrine Wagtail (v)
White Wagtail (v) (a)

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