Grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
Grey wagtails are resident all year in most parts of the UK and Ireland, winter visitors in others (from coastal areas of Yorkshire, down through East Anglia and much of Kent), and summer-only visitors in northern parts of the UK, such as Scotland. These summer migrants arrive in April and stay until September/October. In fact, they do not engage in migration in the ordinary sense i.e. simply form one place to another, but do so from an upland area (summer) to a lowland area (winter); such behaviour is known as “altitudinal migration”.
Greater densities of Grey wagtails can be located in hillier areas of England, like the Lake District, and over summer they have a preference for fast-flowing rivers. It is possible to observe them in cities and farmland over winter. They are also significantly widespread across the Palearctic realm, a biogeographic region that encompasses much of Europe, Asia, and even includes some of North Africa. Summer visitors (not resident varieties) to the UK spend their winters in the Africa.

A Grey wagtail sitting in its preferred location beside a stream
As is normal for wagtails, Grey wagtails have a tendency to move their tails from left to right. You may also notice their unique flying pattern, which is to fly low in an undulating, bobbing manner; they often fly in this way while expressing their sharp, chipping calls. There’s a distinction between male and female Grey wagtails: males feature a bright yellow breast and black bib, while females are much less yellow and do not have the black bib.
In the garden it is possible to spot a Grey wagtail, though they are very few and far between. Should you see one, it is highly likely to have been drawn in by a specific water feature such as a pond. In fact, according to the RSPB, unless you have a stream running at the bottom of your garden, your best chance of attracting a Grey wagtail is to get out your spade and start digging a pond!
Grey wagtails are relatively rare birds with a population of just 38,000 breeding pairs in the UK. They are, subsequently, classified as Red Status due to this considerably low number.
Taxonomy and naming convention
The Latinate is a diminutive of “motare”, which means “to move about” i.e. characteristic of wagtails in general, and expressive of their tail movements. The second part of the name “cinerea” means “ash-grey”, a derivative of “cinis” or “ashes”.
Diet
Grey wagtails feed almost exclusively on aquatic-type insects and invertebrates, or similar such creatures found in and around rivers and streams: flies, beetles, crustacea and molluscs. In your garden, don’t expect them to take to feeders for bird food such as peanuts and sunflower heart, as these foods aren’t a part of their regular diet.
Nesting & breeding
Grey wagtails begin breeding in April. The nest is placed in a location close to a fast-flowing river, usually between hollows, or nooks and crannies among stones and rocks; sometimes, they can be found within manmade structures and, typically, nests are lined with moss and hair. It is normal for a clutch to contain between three and six eggs; the incubation period last around twelve days with a subsequent fledging period of twelve days.
What is the difference between a Grey wagtail and Yellow wagtail?

Yellow wagtail – Motacilla flava

Grey wagtail – Motacilla cinerea
What about the pied wagtail, a bird often seen in the west coast areas, especially in The Fylde?
Put a pond into my garden this year really made up to see the grey wagtail pay it a visit never seen anything like that in my garden.
I was really pleased to see the grey wagtail, and take some not very good pictures of it, at Kew Gardens in June. It was on the rockery there, where there are several areas of water, and I watched it for ages. I’m really pleased to see you have featured it in my email today.
Very interesting re. the Grey Wagtail,never knew they excited have had the spotted one in the garden also the green, never realised there was a yellow one either.
A most enjoyable article
I have had grey wagtails nesting this year in a Pyracantha and also in a climbing hydrangea. I have also had a pair of pied wagtails. Amazingly, both pairs have had three broods each. They are both just about to fledge the third brood. A strange thing happened at one point; the pied pair had fledged two broods and were renovating one of the grey wagtail nests also in the Pyracantha, when both adults began to feed the chicks of the grey wagtail second brood. This nest, in the same Pyracantha, was easily visible from a bedroom window, so I was able to watch the goings-on. The pied pair tried hard to drive off the grey parents, who were having none of it, so those chicks (5) were being fed by four adults. Four fledged successfully, but one I found dead in the bush, maybe fallen out of the nest. All four adult birds have been very tame and a joy to watch bobbing about on my lawn.
A couple of years ago I had a grey wagtail visit my garden every day in the (mild) winter, around the same time every day. I don’t live near the coast, or near any rivers and there’s no water feature in my garden. He would bob around on the ground grabbing flies and other bugs but also eating the bits of sunflower heart dropped from the feeders by the goldfinches and chaffinches. He (or another wagtail) returned the following winter but not as frequently and not seen him or any others since.
I also have grey wagtails visit my garden very often in summer and winter. Their is no water here or close by as far as I know. And have watched them feed on dropped Sunflower Hearts and fatballs from the feeders. But most of all they adore the livefood I put out ( mealworms and waxworms )
I don’t have a big garden but they are tame enough for me to sit on the patio and watch them as they run around the garden feeding or just resting on the ground without moving for quite long periods. My favourite bit of them is when they find a mealworm/waxworm then run into cover to finish it then back again for another. They can be quite comical at times.
I now realise that the “yellow” wagtail which visits our pond about this time every year (or one of its offspring) is in fact a grey wagtail. we are delighted to see him/her. He stays around for just a few days, 2 or 3 at most, Does anyone know if he is migrating?
We have a small suburban garden in Sussex and were delighted last year to be visited by a grey wagtail several times a day during the winter – favorite food were little bits of suet pellets. We are delighted that a couple of weeks ago we are again being visited [same bird – who knows?]. We have no water feature in our garden and don’t know of any suitable habitat nearby. Fascinating.
I saw these lovely birds in North Yorkshire couple of days ago, gorgous.
Our grey wagtails nest in the Virginia Creeper. Two young fledged this year but disappeared about a day later. Is this normal?
We have a pond with water fall and have noticed in the past few weeks a grey detail keep visiting can’t get a clear picture of it as it is very timid but a beautiful bird feel honoured it’s visiting our garden .
The Grey wagtail has visited our garden the last two Winters. We have no pond but it goes looking for food on our flat roof, I throw Sunflower hearts up there for the birds. It’s obviously “any port in a storm” when it comes to survival, adjusting it’s diet to suit.
For the last few weeks, a grey wagtail has visited my garden, picking up bits of fatballs dropped by other birds. A delight to watch!
This is far west Cornwall, with streams nearby.
I have just seen my first ever gray wagtail and in my garden!
We back onto to woodlands that has a large pond as well as farmlands!
We have a grey wagtail visit our garden every day,has been doing so since mid October. Love’s sitting on edge of the pond.
Last few days has spent most of the day flying to the mirror near pond. We feed him on mealworms+ sunflower seeds. He is very tame.
I have seen a grey wagtail in my garden this morning & what a lovely sight to behold .. it was very near to the steps up to our back door . It had come for food that we had left in the place for our usual garden visitors ! We have about 5cm of snow overnight in Lancashire & a little more this morning . Hopefully we will see it again ! My husband has taken a photo but it isn’t the best quality as it had to be taken very quickly ! We don’t have a pond in the garden but live near to the Leeds Liverpool Canal in Whittle – le -Woods .
I have found a grey wagtails nest with a brood of 5 it is in an old electrical switch room on a site where I work is this normal as I have read they like to nest by flowing streams
I have a pond and waterfall in my small garden and for the past week have been visited by five grey Wagtails. They are very chirpy and happy and seem to be bathing in the waterfall ledges
Saw a grey wagtail going across the pitched clay tile roof today. They regularly do this in different seasons…
We have one feeding on insects around water build up on our patio, were in Inverclyde, it was here last year, only just seen it again yesterday..
I have just seen a (female) grey wagtail in a pocket park in the City of London, near Tower Hill. I’m not sure if I should be surprised by this or not! First time I’ve seen one in the 8 years I’ve been here.
so excited to see a grey wagtail in the garden this morning! Never seen one before! Must be the pond in the garden!! Woohoo!
Just looked at the garden and around my pond and saw the Grey wagtail feeding, then out of the blue came a Blue tit (no pun intended there). Then a Wren running around like a mouse as they do, followed by a Bullfinch, then a Black bird and finally a Robin, the garden seems alive with great looking birds at the moment. I am in the NE of England and it is very common for me to see such birds, There is a Woodpecker around too although it has been a while since I saw it
We have had a grey wagtail visiting our garden pond for the last few weeks – delighted to read this article that confirms that it is indeed a grey wagtail. Super cute he flits about in the waterfall ledges and then on the lily pads – after his ‘dip’ in the pond – juat a few moments ago – he then sits on the fat balls eating away.
We live in Berkshire and feel honoured this delightful little bird has taken to our garden and pond.
Janet
My daughter is lucky to have a grey wagtail visit her garden several times recently. I was able to video a bit of its movements across the lawn. An exciting sight of grey and yellow and how that tail did wag! We named him Ben. This was soon followed by what we thought was the female grey wagtail. We called her Snowy as she was all white and grey with some black.Then I read that female grey wagtails don’t have a black bib which this little bird has. So it looks like they are not a pair, or are they? He or she may be a pied wagtail? Interesting.
I have a small garden in which I have built a small pond with a water feature, I am now visited every day (8am through ’til 4pm) by a solitary female grey wagtail, it eats mealworms which it takes from the table and then dunks in the water before consuming. It is now 3rd Jan. Mine is the only ‘ running water’s in the area ( just outside Swansea).
Got one visiting my garden most days ♥️♥️
We have had a grey wagtail visiting our small garden with no water feature, over the last week. It visits several times a day and feeding on bits from fatballs and sunflower hearts. It was joined on one visit with another wagtail, but it was black and white – pied wagtail? Delighted to have this beautiful bird visit our garden. We live on Ayrshire coast and have never seen these birds around here
We have had a pair of grey wagtails. Visit our waterall in our small pond. Where they showered in the waterfall running backwards and forwards under the water and then preening themselves.
Water stopped flowing for two days and we have not seen them since.
Drogheda .Ireland.
We have a grey wagtail in our garden and visits every day.
Walks around the rim of the water bath and dipsits tail and feathers in the water.
Not seen here before.
We don’t have a pond but there’s a river close by.
Feeding on insects.
Mirfield, West Yorkshire
We’ve just seen pair of Grey Wagtails in our garden, ignoring the pond but showing interest in a wheel barrow full of water. Most pictures of this bird don’t show the amazing black and white striped tail in flight, a wonderful bird. We are in the clays area of Cornwall.
So very pleased. During the last few weeks I’ve had a grey wagtail visiting my pond and garden. What a lovely little bird! Never seen one here before and I’ve had a severe word with the cat to Leave It Alone or else!!
Northampton Town Centre UK
We have a female Grey Wagtail in our garden for a few weeks now. Pretty little creature! We have a pond so this might be the reason. It is visiting several times a day, but it has a strange habit. We have a large and low window opposite the pond and the bird comes to the window every time and knock it in its fly. She does it every time she visits. She leaves droppings under the window while doing this ceremony. I tried to put bird silhouettes on the window but no luck. Any idea why she does it? Maybe she thinks it is another bird in the reflection? I am worried she might hurt herself.
Kata, Kent
We have similar behaviour pattern grey wagtail knocking on our window. No water feature but adjacent building has flat roof that collects water. She also walks up and down my car roof, perched on wing mirror then attempts to sit on window trim to look in mirror, leaving droppings all over mirror. I have covered mirrors now as worried she thinks it a mate and she not move onto where should be living!
We have a grey wagtail that comes multiple times every day for mealworms and a dip in the pond. We’re in Co. Armagh, N Ireland. She’s lovely to watch but very shy. Had never seen one before we put the pond with waterfall in this year.
I have a grey wag tail coming into my garden, but the nearest pond is quite away from my house. He is a beautiful bird and I love to see him or her walking around. I live in the northwest