Grey Wagtail

A grey back paired with a yellow belly.

Scientific name	Motacilla cinerea
English name	Grey Wagtail
Japanese name	黄鶺鴒
Class	Aves
Order	Passeriformes
Family	Motacillidae
Genus	Motacilla
Species	cinerea
Full length	Approx. 20cm
Distribution	Kyushu and northward.

Grey Wagtail Characteristics and Morphology

A wagtail about 20cm long. Characterized by a yellow belly. Males and females look almost identical.
The head ranges from grey to dark brown. A white supercilium (eyebrow) line is present. The bill is thin and lead-colored. The color of the throat differs between sexes. The back is grey, and the primary feathers are blackish. The belly is yellow, while the flanks are white. The tail is long and grey. The legs are a mix of flesh and lead tones.
Its habitat differs from the White Wagtail (Motacilla alba), which is commonly seen in urban areas.

Male

Appearance is nearly identical to the female.
The throat is black. The black becomes more distinct in summer plumage.

Female

Appearance is nearly identical to the male.
The throat is white.

Song

Very similar to the White Wagtail, but the call is higher and sharper, sounding like "chi" or "chi-chi."

Grey Wagtail Ecology

Habitat

Lives near water. Mainly inhabits riverbanks; it is relatively easy to encounter if you are near a river.

Food

Feeds on insects found in the water or on riverbeds.

Life Cycle

Breeds by building a cup-shaped nest in rock crevices or thickets along riverbanks. In winter, they descend to warmer regions to overwinter.

Grey Wagtail Photos

Grey Wagtail Photos are introduced.
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The black throat suggests this is a male.

It was preening its feathers in a secluded spot.

Grey Wagtail Behavior

Like other wagtails, it walks near water (rivers, ponds, etc.) while bobbing its tail up and down.

Grey Wagtail Information

Naming

The scientific name "cinerea" means "ashy-grey." Unlike the Japanese name (which focuses on the yellow belly), this name focuses on the color of the back. The English name "Grey Wagtail" also refers to this grey coloration.

This bird was beloved by poets such as Kobayashi Issa and Kitahara Hakushu.

Grey Wagtail Found Locations

Otaba International Rainbow Trout Fishing Ground, Okutama

Visited the Otaba International Rainbow Trout Fishing Ground in Okutama. I had spotted them a few times while walking along the Otaba River, but they came quite close to people at the fishing ground. Maintaining a distance of about 20m, they moved back and forth, seemingly curious about the trout fishing. After walking along the riverbank for a while, they flew away downstream.