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Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Passeriformes
Family:
Motacillidae
BTO Codes:
PW , PIEWA
EURING No:
10200
Number in Britain:
293 thousand territories (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
GREEN
European:
Not a species of concern
Global:
Least Concern
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Status in UK:
(A) Migrant/Resident Breeder, Passage Visitor
Subspecies:
yarrellii (RB), alba (P) recorded in Britain (of 11 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
18 cm
Wingspan:
28 cm
Weight:
M/F: 21 g
Scientific name from:
Gr.: muttex a bird described by Hesychius
and L.: albus =white
World Distribution:
Eurasia, nw Africa
Habitat:
Open country, often near water
Diet:
Small invertebrates from ground or flycatching
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
Regional Trends:
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
255 to 330 thousand territories
in 2000
First Record:
8th Century
[Fossil evidence from
Ipswichian (last) interglacial, c. 125,000 yr ago]
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
Most frequent in:
Villages
Also common in:
Pasture Farmland, Reedbed
And found in:
Arable Farmland, Towns
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
European Population Size:
Summer:
8 to 14 million pairs
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
Bern(III)
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
20 x 15 mm
Egg Weight:
2.3 g (of which 6 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
238
Clutch Size:
5 - 6 eggs
5.04 ± 0.82 (2 - 9) N = 2065
Incubation:
13 days
13.07 ± 0.63 (12 - 15) N = 2065
by the:
Female
Fledging:
14 - 15 days
14.08 ± 1.49 (11 - 17) N = 3742
as:
Altricial, downy
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid:
17 May (15 Apr - 1 Jul)
Number of Broods:
2
Trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed:
4018
Adult Survival:
0.485
Juvenile Survival:
0.386 (in First-Year)
Age at First Breeding:
1
year
Typical Lifespan:
2
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
11yr3m
Biometrics
Ring Size:
A
Wing Length
Adult:
89.5 ± 3.0
Range
85 - 94 mm, N =6819
Juvenile:
88.7 ± 2.8
85 - 93 mm, N =7695
Male:
91.3 ± 2.4
87 - 95 mm, N =3223
Female:
87.4 ± 2.2
84 - 92 mm, N =2640
Weight
Adult:
22.92 ± 1.89
Range
20.10 - 26.10 g , N =6044
Juvenile:
22.52 ± 1.84
19.60 - 25.60 g , N =6688
Male:
23.67 ± 1.78
20.70 - 26.50 g , N =2825
Female:
22.05 ± 1.62 .
19.70 - 25.00 g , N =2348
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
White Wagtail
Gaelic:
Breac-an-t-sìl
Welsh:
Siglen Fraith
Danish:
Hvid vipstjert
Dutch:
Witte kwikstaart
Finnish:
Västäräkki
French:
Bergeronnette grise
German:
Bachstelze
Hungarian:
Barázdabillegeto
Icelandic:
Maríuerla
Irish:
Glasóg Shráide
Italian:
Ballerina bianca
Norwegian:
Linerle
Polish:
Pliszka siwa
Portuguese:
Alvéola-branca
Spanish:
Lavandera blanca
Swedish:
Sädesärla
Local Names: Willy Wagtail, Dishwasher
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
No books written recently
See Also:
Gough, G.A. et al. (1998) Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter
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