Grey Wagtail

Motacilla cinerea

Other Names

    Bergeronnette des ruisseaux   Gebirgsstelze   Lavandera Cascadeña, Lavandera de cascada   Forsärla   Grote Gele Kwikstaart   Ballerina gialla

World: In hill and mountain regions across the Palearctic. Winters from Britain, S through continental Europe to southern Asia, Africa, the Philippines, Indonesia and New Guinea.

Kenya: Winter visitor from October-March near fast-flowing rivers and streams in highland forests.

Unlike the Yellow Wagtail this is a solitary bird which is found foraging alongside fast flowing streams. It pumps its especially long tail up and down and side to side vigorously during pauses in feeding, this is probably to flush insects. It feeds by picking up food (mainly insects) while it walks or runs. It will even wade into shallow water for aquatic insects or tadpoles and small fish. It also catches insects on the wing either flying vertically up from a perch or hovering to take insects from leaves of crevices in the bark of trees.