THE PIED WAGTAIL 



MOTACILLA TARRELLI 



LOCAL names in surrounding counties : " Nanny Wagtail," 

 " Dish-washer " (Essex). 



STATUS IN BRITISH AVIFAUNA : A common and widely 

 distributed resident, becoming more local in winter, and 

 subject to some migrational movement. 



RADIAL DISTRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 

 PAUL'S : The Pied Wagtail seems to possess a special 

 propensity for paying casual visits to most uncongenial 

 places in towns and cities. Many years ago I used fre- 

 quently to see this Wagtail in the most central parts of 

 Sheffield, running along the roofs of the factories or 

 daintily tripping by the margin of the filth-stained rivers, 

 an armVlength from roaring machinery. In London I 

 have many times noticed it running about the foreshore 

 between the Tower and Battersea. It may well be de- 

 scribed as one of the commonest of our country's birds, and 

 has been known to nest in suitable spots right up to the 

 town limits. These include most of the parks and the 

 suburban brickfields. There are, indeed, few localities 

 where water is present that this Wagtail does not visit ; 

 and this means that the bird may be met with all 

 along the Thames, by the various canals and the many 

 ornamental sheets of water and reservoirs that abound 

 in the Metropolis. I have no personal records of the 

 species from the fountains in Trafalgar Square, but the 

 bird has been seen at them. In all the more rural 

 suburbs it is of frequent occurrence, and breeds in 

 every locality at all suited to its needs. 



The Pied Wagtail is subject not only to much local 

 movement, but to considerable migration during autumn 

 and spring ; consequently many individuals on passage 

 visit inner London, seldom remaining long, and by no 



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