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 Pied
Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii L 18.5.
British Isles race of White Wagtail, also breeds
sporadically on adjacent Continental coasts:
locally in Norway, Germany, Holland, Belgium
and NW France. Breeds commonly in open country,
around farmyards, in towns, usually near water.
Nests in recesses or holes, often under roof
tiles and in stone walls, under stones, even
on moored boats. Black, dark grey and white
plumage together with con- stantly wagging tail
distinguish it from all other birds. Male can
often be told from female by back being pure
black; female usually has dark grey back. Juvenile
is grey on face and has a grey patch across
breast. At end of summer moults into 1 st-winter
plumage with dull yellowish face and prominent
black crescent on upper breast. Adult in winter
similar but is white on face and throat. Juvenile
resembles juvenile Grey Wagtail, but has white
(not yellow) undertail-coverts and the dark
patch across breast. Birds in 1 st-winter plumage
and females in 1 st-summer plumage resemble
White Wagtail (see below), but rump is almost
black, not grey, and flanks are dark grey (with
green tone), not pale ash- grey. Outside breeding
season usually seen in small parties, but sometimes
gathers in large flocks to roost communally
in reeds, orchards etc (at times even inside
factories and glasshouses). Feeds on insects
taken on the ground as well as captured in the
air in flycatcher fashion. Runs very quickly.
Wags tail up and down and nods head as it moves.
Flight deeply undulating. Call a disyllabic,
kind of 'rebounding', 'tsee-LITT' and variants.
Juveniles often sound higher-pitched, more metallic,
the call is more rapid and often of three or
even four syllables, 'tseeziLITT', 'tseeziziLITT'
Song twittering, composed, to large extent of
the call, always sounds very excited and lively.
Also heard when chasing off Cuckoos and smaller
birds of prey. RSWP
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