Tolka River Valley Park
Finglas/Ashtown/Cabra
Dublin Ireland
Scientific classification
Domain:Eukaryota
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Passeriformes
Family:Motacillidae
Genus:Motacilla
Species:M. cinerea
Binomial name
Motacilla cinerea
[group] Wagtails and pipits | [order] PASSERIFORMES | [family] Motacillidae | [latin] Motacilla cinerea | [UK] Grey Wagtail | [FR] Bergeronnette des ruisseaux | [DE] Gebirgsstelze | [ES] Lavandera Cascadena | [NL] Grote Gele Kwikstaart | [IRL] Glasóg liath
Measurements
spanwidth min.: 25 cm
spanwidth max.: 27 cm
size min.: 18 cm
size max.: 20 cm
Breeding
incubation min.: 11 days
incubation max.: 14 days
fledging min.: 13 days
fledging max.: 14 days
broods 2
eggs min.: 4
eggs max.: 7
Status: A widespread resident along fast flowing streams and rivers throughout Ireland.
Conservation Concern: Green-listed in Ireland. The European population has been evaluated as Secure.
Identification: Slightly larger than Pied Wagtail. A very striking bird, with the dark grey head and back offfset by extensive yellow on the breast, belly and vent. The rump is also bright yellow. Grey Wagtails also have a black throat, as well as a white stripe through the eye. The beak and legs are dark grey, the latter with a variable pinkish tinge. The yellow wash on the lower body is less intense on female birds, while juveniles lack the black throat patch and have the yellow restricted to the vent and rump. Juvenile Grey Wagtails also have pink legs and bill in contrast to the adults.
Similar species: Pied Wagtail
Call: The main call is similar to that of the Pied Wagtail, though slightly higher pitched "ti-zick". The song is a repeated "zri-zri-zri" delivered from a perch.
Diet: Grey Wagtails feed mainly on insects caught on the ground or in flight.
Breeding: Breeds mainly along streams and rivers, frequently building its nest under a bridge.
Wintering: Generally sedentary. Some birds move to coastal areas, especially those where large amounts of seaweed have washed up.
Where to See: Common throughout waterways of Ireland
Physical characteristics
Longer and more attenuated than any other west Palearctic wagtail, with slimness of rear body enhanced by exccptionally long tail. Very graceful, lithe, slim wagtail, with almost constantly grey above and yellow below. Wings largely black and tail black with white outer feathers. Male has black bib in summer. Flight action exceptionally bounding. sexes dissimilar, seasonal variation marked in male.
Habitat
In west Palearctic, occurs mainly in temperate middle and lower-middle latitudes, overlapping sparingly into boreal and Mediterranean. Typical breeding habitats include combination of 1) Fresh water, especially fast-running streams and rivers, but also canals, lowland streams, and margins of lakes, both oligotrophic and eutrophic. 2) Rock slabs, boulders, vertical rock faces, shingle or gravel stream beds, or artefacts. 3) Sheltering trees, shrubs, or dense herbage. 4)Holes, ledges, or hollows for nesting.
Other details
Motacilla cinerea has a discontinuous breeding distribution in western and southern Europe, the Caucasus and the western Urals, with Europe accounting for less than a quarter of its global breeding range. Its European breeding population is large (>740,000 pairs), and was stable between 1970-1990. The species remained stable overall during 1990-2000, with the vast majority of national populations stable or increasing?including the key one in Romania.
Feeding
Diet based on insects. Two main foraging techniques: 1) Bird walks or runs, repeatedly picking up small items or chasing more mobile prey, with tail wagging and snapping up, down, or to one side,apparently to flush insects, may also wade in shallow water picking up tadpoles or lunging for small fish. 2) Flies from perch or ground, in addition, may hover to obtain flying insects or prey from leaves or tree crevices.
Conservation
This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is extremely large, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern. [conservation status from birdlife.org]
Breeding
Nest site in hole or crevice in wall or bank, and among tree roots, sometimes under bridge. Nest cup of grass, roots and small twigs, often with moss, lined hair. Build by both sexes. 4-6 eggs, sub-elliptical, smooth and glossy, whitish, cream or grey-buff, faintly marked grey or grey-buff. Incubation by both sexes.
Migration
Mainly a partial migrant, but wholly migratory or resident in some parts of range. Found in winter throughout most of European breeding range but some move to Africa as far south as southern Malawi. Winter range also includes Middle East, and birds from central and eastern Asia move to India and south-east Asia as far as New Guinea, with single record from northern Australia. Populations of Azores, Madeira, and Canary Islands are resident. In autumn, movements within Europe of over 200 km mainly between north-west, south-west, and south-east in central and western Europe, and mainly around south-west in Britain. Coastal autumn passage occurs in Britain and Ireland, most marked at southern headlands and inshore islands and almost synchronous throughout, peaking mid-September. Northward passage in spring generally inconspicuous.