Grey Wagtail 

 GREY WAGTAIL 



Motacilla melanope, Pallas 



The Grey Wagtail is a close inhabitant of rocky streams, 

 and we have to go to the more mountainous parts of our 

 islands to find this species " at home." 



Like the Pied Wagtail it is a partial migrant, seeking the 

 warmer portions in the south and west during the winter and 

 moving back to the same rushing streams with the return of 

 spring. 



The nest is placed in one of the loose stone walls so 

 common near its haunts, or on the ground in some cleft of 

 the rocks. The eggs resemble those of the Yellow Wagtail, 

 but are slightly larger. 



It is a very handsome bird, the handsomest perhaps of 

 all our Wagtails. The back and upper parts are of a deep 

 bluish grey : wings and tail (except the two outer feathers, 

 which are white, a characteristic of all wagtails), dark brown ; 

 under parts clear lemon yellow, paler on the vent. Length 

 7 in. ; wing 3'3 in. 



Female and young resemble the male, but are paler. In 

 summer the male has a jet black gorget. 



This species has a much longer tail than our other 

 species, the Yellow Wagtail having the shortest tail. 



Generally distributed throughout our islands but only 

 found during summer near rushing torrents, wandering at 

 other times throughout the country, but always in the 

 vicinity of running water. 



The note is very similar to that of the Pied Wagtail. 



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