GREY WAGTAIL 



Motacilla melanope 



N England and Wales the Grey Wagtail is somewhat 

 sparingly distributed, breeding chiefly in the hilly districts, 

 and retiring to the low-lying ground during the winter. 

 It is more widely distributed in Scotland, and occurs on 

 several of the islands. It also occasionally visits the 

 Orkneys, Shetlands, and Outer Hebrides. In Ireland, 

 although somewhat local, it is widely distributed. 



The haunts of the Grey Wagtail are beside the running waters, especially 

 the rushing mountain streams, where the rocky banks are covered with trees, 

 and the fern-covered ledges afford safe nesting-sites. Nothing can be more 

 graceful than the movements of this dainty little bird, as it flits from stone to 

 stone amid the rushing stream, or runs swiftly along the edge of some deep 

 pool, continually moving its tail gracefully up and down, and now and then 

 taking a quick snatch at some insect. It does not appear to frequent the 

 pastures and lawns to the same extent as its relatives, but confines itself to 

 the margins of rivers, streams, and lakes. When alarmed it generally flies 

 up from the river-bed with a slow, undulating flight, and perches in some tree 

 overhanging the water, uttering its alarm-notes, ' checz-zit, clriz-zit! 



The food of the Grey Wagtail is chiefly composed of insects and their 

 larvae, but tiny water-shells and beetles are also eaten, and small worms. It 

 is a beautiful sight to watch a Grey Wagtail perched on some stone in a rocky 

 pool, taking little flights into the air after the passing insects, and showing 

 the delicate colours of its plumage against the dark background of the pool. 



Its song, which is often overlooked, resembles the twittering of a Swallow, 

 and is soft and low. When its nest is threatened, a low, plaintive note, ' Aoo-iu,' 

 is uttered as well as the usual alarm-note, ' chiz-zitj which is common to most 

 of the Wagtails. This bird seems to frequent the branches of trees more than 



in 



