Pied / White Wagtails? (Cyprus - March 2024) (1 Viewer)

[DoghouseRiley]

Hi All

Could someone take a look at the attached pics and ID?

The last 4 I believe are of the same individual bird.

Each were all alone and so may have come in during migration.

Yours, Gareth

 

[Bewick]

In the first image you can see the contrast between the black of the hood and tail with the grey of the mantle and wings which makes it a white wagtail (Motacilla alba alba). White wagtails for the second lot (2-5) as well because absence of any black in its crown or mantle (note- whites can show slight amounts of black on the crown). Seems like a 1st spring female due to its greyish forehead also appears to show slight brownish tinge to its wings (note- the yellowish tinge to the ear coverts can also be seen on adult females).

Edit- Do not know whether pied wagtails get to Cyprus very often, pied wagtails seem to be almost exclusively found in the extreme western parts of Europe (mainly Britain and Ireland).

 

[Butty]

Pied wagtail would be out of the question on Cyprus as far as I'm aware. Or do you think that some feature suggests that? Pics 2-5 are indeed of one individual.

 

[DoghouseRiley]

In the first image you can see the contrast between the black of the hood and tail with the grey of the mantle and wings which makes it a white wagtail (Motacilla alba alba). White wagtails for the second lot (2-5) as well because absence of any black in its crown or mantle (note- whites can show slight amounts of black on the crown). Seems like a 1st spring female due to its greyish forehead also appears to show slight brownish tinge to its wings (note- the yellowish tinge to the ear coverts can also be seen on adult females).

Edit- Do not know whether pied wagtails get to Cyprus very often, pied wagtails seem to be almost exclusively found in the extreme western parts of Europe (mainly Britain and Ireland).

Thanks Bewick

 

[DoghouseRiley]

Pied wagtail would be out of the question on Cyprus as far as I'm aware. Or do you think that some feature suggests that? Pics 2-5 are indeed of one individual.

Just checked some lists and it appears that Pied is not found in Cyprus, just Grey, Citrine, White, Eastern Yellow and Western Yellow, thanks.

 

[MJB]

Pied wagtail would be out of the question on Cyprus as far as I'm aware. Or do you think that some feature suggests that? Pics 2-5 are indeed of one individual.

Single Cyprus record 13 May 2007 (Colin Richardson).
MJB