All species
resident
Least ConcernWagtails and pipits
Pied Wagtail
A dapper black-and-white bird with a long tail that constantly wags up and down. Common in towns, car parks and beside water where it walks with a jerky gait.
Motacilla alba
Urban Rivers Lakes Farmland Coastal
Size
18-19 cm
Wingspan
25-30 cm
Weight
17-25 g
Lifespan
2-3 years
Diet
Insects and small invertebrates, often picked from pavements, lawns and shallow water.
Song & Call
A sharp, metallic 'chis-wick' or 'chis-wick-wick' call.
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Speed
Visualizer
Recording by Hannu Varkki · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
How to identify
- Black and white plumage
- Long tail often wagging
- Slender build
- White face stripe
Conservation
Least Concern
Common and adaptable; benefits from cracks and crevices in buildings for nesting.
