Bird 🐦
🐦
Motacilla alba yarrellii
| Size | 18 cm Slender and sparrow-sized but with a longer tail |
|---|---|
| Weight | 19–27 g About the weight of a large strawberry |
| Lifespan | 2–3 years |
| Rarity | Common |
| M vs F | Males are bold black and white in summer; females are greyer above with less black on the breast |
| Habitat | Gardens, car parks, farmyards, riverbanks, urban streets — almost any open area |
| Best time | Year-round |
| Conservation | UK: Green LC |
Did you know?
Pied Wagtails gather in enormous communal roosts in winter — sometimes thousands of birds in supermarket car park trees or reed beds — after spending the day in widely scattered territories
Pied Wagtails gather in enormous communal roosts in winter — sometimes thousands of birds in supermarket car park trees or reed beds — after spending the day in widely scattered territories
More for experts
The constant tail-wagging is not fully understood — proposed functions include communication, signalling fitness, and flushing invertebrates from grass — but no single explanation has been fully confirmed
Often confused with
Grey Wagtail (yellow underparts, longer tail, near fast water), White Wagtail (paler grey back — continental subspecies)
Grey Wagtail (yellow underparts, longer tail, near fast water), White Wagtail (paler grey back — continental subspecies)