Photo: Dûrzan cîrano / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinerea
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 11 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) is a member of the Motacillidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 17.1 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Motacillidae Wagtails, Pipits
- Genus Motacilla
- Species cinerea
Where it lives
Widespread Europe and Macaronesia south to northwestern Africa and east to eastern Russia through Mongolia, northeastern China, Korean Pen., and Kyushu (southern Japan); also eastern Kazakhstan to Afghanistan and western, central Himalayas
Quick facts
- Weight
- 17.1 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Motacillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Grey Wagtail is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of rivers and riverside habitats, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Grey Wagtail is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) is a member of the Motacillidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers PAL, OR widespread Europe and Macaronesia s to nw Africa and e to e Russia through Mongolia, ne China, Korean Pen., and Kyushu (s Japan); also e Kazakhstan to Afghanistan and w, c Himalayas.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 17.1 g, with a wing length of about 8.3 cm and a tail of around 9.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 19.6 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Grey Wagtail?
The Grey Wagtail is a small bird that weighs around 17.1 g.
Where does the Grey Wagtail live?
The Grey Wagtail is found across Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia with a range covering PAL, OR widespread Europe and Macaronesia s to nw Africa and e to e Russia through Mongolia, ne China, Korean Pen., and Kyushu (s Japan); also e Kazakhstan to Afghanistan and w, c Himalayas, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Grey Wagtail belong to?
The Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) belongs to the Motacillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Grey Wagtail eat?
The Grey Wagtail is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Grey Wagtail migrate?
The Grey Wagtail is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Grey Wagtail endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Grey Wagtail make?
1 real field recording of the Grey Wagtail — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Grey Wagtail's range?
The Grey Wagtail has a mapped global range of about 19.6 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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