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| Pied Wagtail - Motacilla alba |
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The Pied Wagtail is a familiar black & white bird from the wagtail family common throughout the British Isles all year round. These delightful little birds can be seen gathering in large roosts at dusk in towns & cities. |
| Indentification |
| Adult - |
Male - is mainly black above with white face, white margins to flight feathers and white outer tail. A black bib terminates in a broad black breast band with the remaining underparts white.
Female - is similiar but with a slate grey back. |
| Juveniles - |
Juveniles and first winter birds have grey backs rather than black and their face is grey unlike the distinctive white face of the adult. |
| Size |
17 - 18cms (6.5 - 7in) |
| Bill |
black, short & thin |
| Legs |
black, medium in length |
| Habitat |
inland freshwater, fields, gardens |
| Behaviour |
walks, perches openly, takes off from vegetation or the ground |
| Flocking |
1 - 10; at dusk roost in large numbers. |
| Flight |
undulating |
| Voice |
harsh chis - ick and disjointed twitter |
| Breeding |
| Nest |
cup shaped nest on the ground |
| Eggs |
5 - 6; grey spekled brown |
| Incubation period |
12 - 14 days |
| Fledgling |
13 - 16 days |
| Broods |
2; April - June |
| Food |
insects |
| UK breeding pairs |
500,000 |
| Selection of popular products |
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