Pied wagtail  (Motacilla alba)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Range

Common and widespread throughout most of Britain, but absent from high ground in winter (5). It is most common in the south of Britain, where birds tend to be sedentary. Northern pied wagtails tend to move southwards for the winter, augmenting the southern populations or travelling to western parts of France, Spain and Portugal (5). The paler continental subspecies, the white wagtail sometimes visits Britain as a passage migrant and occasionally breeds in Shetland (6).

You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.

Habitat

This bird tends to prefer habitats close to water, such as river banks and lake edges. However it can also be seen in farmland, moorland, parks and gardens (3), as well as around sewage farms, reservoirs and in towns (5).

left