Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinerea
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyMotacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
- GenusMotacilla (Wagtails)
- SpeciesMotacilla cinerea (Grey Wagtail)
The grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) is a member of the wagtail family, Motacillidae, measuring around 18–19 cm overall length. The species looks somewhat similar to the yellow wagtail but has the yellow on its underside restricted to the throat and vent. Breeding males have a black throat. The species is widely distributed, with several populations breeding in Eurosiberia and migrating to tropical regions in Asia and Africa. The species is always associated with running water when breeding, although they may use man-made structures near streams for the nest. Outside the breeding season, they may also be seen around lakes, coasts and other watery habitats. Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Wilpattu National Park
Western Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flava
Eastern Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla tschutschensis
Oriental Pipit
Anthus rufulus
Forest Wagtail
Dendronanthus indicus
Richard's Pipit
Anthus richardi
Blyth's Pipit
Anthus godlewskii
Indian Robin
Saxicoloides fulicatus
Oriental Magpie-Robin
Copsychus saularis
Black-hooded Oriole
Oriolus xanthornus
Indian Paradise-Flycatcher
Terpsiphone paradisi
White-browed Bulbul
Pycnonotus luteolus
Common Iora
Aegithina tiphia
📅 Monthly Probability
Fewer than 5 records of Grey Wagtail at Wilpattu National Park — not enough to chart months honestly.
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there