Pied wagtail Factfile
Latin name
Distribution
Pied wagtails occur throughout all of the UK, though breeding birds in much of the Scottish Highlands, Western Isles and Northern Isles, move south for the winter months.
Habitat
Although there is some association with habitat which is close to water, the Pied wagtail can be found in a host of different locations – the common factor being open land with short or very limited vegetation. This is because the species feeds on or very close to the ground, and for the latter will typically disturb insects as it walks and then quickly flies up less than a foot to catch them in mid-air. So wasteland, farm yards, town centres, beaches, parks, gardens with large lawns, fields and upland areas which are grazed, are all likely habitats where Pied wagtails can be seen. Outside of the breeding season, Pied wagtails are a common site in town centres and car parks etc. and also often form large roosts on buildings.
UK Population
There are around 505,000 breeding pairs of Pied wagtail in the UK.
Even for people not especially interested in birds, the Pied wagtail is often familiar to them as the species has become a common sight wandering around in supermarket and motorway service station car parks, especially in the winter months, looking for tiny bits of dropped food – although their primary food is insects. The Pied wagtail is actually a race of the White wagtail, with virtually all of its global population being in the UK, whereas the White Wagtail replaces it across mainland Europe. Unmistakable from any other bird in the UK, its black, white and grey plumage, plus constantly wagging long tail, make the Pied wagtail one of the easiest of all songbirds to recognise.
Male and female Pied wagtails are fairly similar but generally can be told apart, with a key feature to look for being the back which is black in the male and dark grey in the female. However, there can be confusion because the plumage of the male changes across the year. As an outline:
- The male Pied wagtail’s breeding season plumage includes a white forehead, cheeks and belly, with a black crown, nape, throat, breast, back, flanks, tail and wings. The long tail has white outer feathers, and the wings have white edges and white bars
- After the breeding season and into the winter months, the male’s plumage is greyer and specifically there is less black on the breast, plus the flanks are grey
- The female’s plumage is essentially the same throughout the year, and is more dark grey compared to the male – especially on the back and nape – but the crown, throat, breast, rump and tail are also black like the male bird
Juvenile Pied wagtails are a brownish-grey colour, which interestingly can be tinged with yellow. The tail of young Pied wagtails is shorter than that of the adults.
Pied wagtail nesting and breeding habits
Few birds are more versatile when it comes to nesting sites than the Pied wagtail, and it will select locations as diverse as a gap in a dry stone wall, a ledge under a bridge, in a pile of old wooden pallets or other debris in a builders’ yard, a disused nest of another species in a hedge, an open fronted nest box tucked into a climbing wall plant, or simply on the ground in rough and open country with no other nesting options. The nest of the Pied wagtail is a neat cup of grass, plant stems and other plant material, then lined with feathers, hair or wool. It is constructed entirely by the female bird, who also does most of the incubation. Pied wagtails usually have two broods per season, with a clutch of five to six eggs which hatch after about 13 days.
Pied wagtail history and population trends
The long term trend for the Pied wagtail is a slightly uncertain one, with considerable fluctuations in the UK population over the last 50 years or so. However, the species is not currently at risk and is therefore listed as green status.
Behaviour traits of Pied wagtails
In their breeding habitat and when feeding, Pied wagtails will typically walk through very short vegetation such as a grazed field in order to disturb insects, and then either catch them on the ground or quickly fly up to catch them as the insect tries to make a getaway. It’s been suggested that the constantly wagging tail might be a tool that wagtails use as they move forward to help disturb insects. A related behaviour is how Pied wagtails will closely follow livestock such as cattle and also horses and ponies around a field, with the animals both attracting flying insects and disturbing them from the ground for the birds to eat. A well-known behaviour in winter months is when many hundreds of Pied wagtails roost together in town and city centres, with buildings such as petrol stations, shopping centres and hospitals all being used, plus lines of trees in well-lit streets.
Pied wagtail diet and food
The Pied wagtail’s food is largely insects, with often tiny ones eaten which other ground-feeding birds may well disregard. Tiny scraps of other food will also be eaten, and this will make up at least some of what they eat in town and city locations in the winter months. In the garden, probably the best food to provide is live mealworms, though they may also eat chopped peanuts and sunflower heart chips spread on the ground.
What should I feed Pied wagtails?
We recommend the following products to help attract Pied wagtails to your garden.
Bird Food
Frequently Asked Questions
How common is a Pied wagtail in UK?
Pied wagtails are fairly common in the UK, with their numbers certainly being helped over time by their apparent liking for manmade habitats – both for feeding and roosting (see more details on this page under ‘Habitat’).
How rare is a Pied wagtail?
Not rare at all in the right sort of habitat, Pied wagtails can even be seen feeding in the car parks of motorway service stations and retail parks.
How do I attract Pied wagtails to my garden?
A running water feature would probably help attract Pied wagtails to a garden, as their preferred natural habitat typically includes running water. The species also likes to feed on areas of short vegetation (e.g. a lawn) but they would also use a patio. Peanut chips and sunflower heart chips scattered direct on the ground will also help attract Pied wagtails, which will readily eat both types of food in the winter months.
Do Pied wagtails eat slugs?
No, Pied wagtails do not eat slugs.
Why do wagtails wag their tail?
The reason that wagtails wag their tales is not entirely understood, and despite numerous studies. However, there is some evidence that the behaviour is associated with visually demonstrating a state of vigilance against predators, with the relevance of this being that, in particular for Pied wagtails, they feed largely in open areas with little cover. It could also be that the wagging tail is serves as a social function - e.g. to signal to as potential mate. A further reason might be that the tail movement disturbs insects in short vegetation for the wagtail to eat.
Do Pied wagtails migrate?
Pied wagtails are largely sedentary and therefore do not migrate. However, some Pied wagtails which breed in the north of Scotland do move further south for the winter months, with some even crossing the English channel.