Grey Wagtail

The Grey Wagtail is more colourful than it’s name suggests, with a very long black and white tail, a yellow stomach and rump. It is grey above with black wings. The male Grey Wagtail has a grey face with a black throat bib and a white moustache.

The Grey Wagtail likes fast flowing rivers and can be found in summer, in high densities in the hills of England, Scotland and Wales. In winter, they move to lowland areas like farmyards, lowland streams and even in towns.

Grey Wagtails eat a variety of insects off the ground, and even fish small snails and tadpoles out of shallow water. They also catch small dragonflies and damselflies on the wing.

They nest near the water in hollows and crevices lined with moss and twigs.

Grey Wagtails were once much more restricted to the fast flowing rivers of the uplands. It has been able to expand its range due to the improved water quality in many of our rivers in recent decades. It has resulted in them now nesting in most parts of the country.

Grey wagtails can be seen all year round and are found over most of Britain, with the exception of the Northern and Western Isles of Scotland.