Gray Wagtail

Motacilla cinerea

Explore this bird

Identification

18 cm (7") Rare. Western Alaska. Strays from Eurasia. Wags tail. Undulating flight.

Gray upperparts. Large black, white-edged tail.

Male: black throat. Yellow breast and belly.

Female: white throat. Pale yellow breast and belly.

Details in the field

4 photos

Credit: Lip Kee Yap

Credit: Luc Viatour

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

1 rule

Rule 1 16 criteria confidence 1

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light outer edge or corners · Unknown
Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Yellow · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northwestern Canada or United States

result:754-gray-wagtail-male:1:1 Source: 754 Gray Wagtail (Male), row 1

1 rule

Rule 1 16 criteria confidence 1

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light outer edge or corners · Unknown
Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northwestern Canada or United States

result:755-gray-wagtail-female:1:1 Source: 755 Gray Wagtail (Female), row 1