The Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) is a small bird.
The Grey Wagtail is slim, with grey upperparts and whitish underparts. It has yellow feathers on its vent (by its tail) and the throat. It wags its tails very often.
Grey Wagtail
It measures 18-19 centimetres (7.5 inches) tall.
The Grey Wagtail is common in Europe and Asia. It migrates in winter to warmer locations, such as Asia and Africa. It prefers to be near shallow water, such as lakes, marshes, coasts, and wetlands.
It feeds on aquatic insects, such as beetles, crabs, and snails.
The Grey Wagtail is usually seen on its own or in pairs.
It nests near fast-moving water, on the shores between stones and tree roots. Females lay 3-6 speckled eggs, which hatch after about 14 days. The chicks gain their flight feathers after about 14 days.
Its average lifespan is 8 years.
Grey Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
[Location of photographs: Tbilisi, Georgia and Paris, France]
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM