Pied Wagtail

By Charlie • April 16, 2006 • No comments yet

Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii
Devon, UK. 26 April 2006

The Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii is the resident British subspecies of the White Wagtail. The nominate race of western Europe, M. a. alba, is a common passage migrant to the British Isles and they are identical in behaviour.

The differentiation of White Wagtail into two subspecies (or races) in western Europe - there are many other races breeding from Eastern Europe all the way to Japan - has perhaps arisen because of the partial isolation of the mainly resident British form, although M. a. yarrellii now also breeds in adjacent areas of the neighbouring European mainland.

pied wagtail

Breeding-plumaged Male Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii

All photographs copyright Charlie Moores.

Tags: motacilla, UK, wagtail

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Charlie

Charlie works for an airline and has birded all over the world for twenty years. He wants to be a writer, and thinks no-one would believe his life could be so charmed if he didn't take photos of as many of the birds he sees as possible. Blogging with 10,000 Birds fits his aims, needs, and insecurities perfectly. Really - do birders get much more fortunate than this?

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