White or Pied Wagtail - Essex UK - Today (1 Viewer)

[djw0208]

Hi, is this a white wagtail please?
Seen today in South Essex.

Light grey back with white underparts, but the cap does not look distinctly black and the bib is slightly mottled so am wondering if it is a female or first winter bird?

Any pointers would be most welcome please.

 

[Andy Hurley]

I think this is a female Pied Wagtail yarrellii. The photo is overexposed (no offence intended) which lightens the image quite a bit. It looks good for a female. White Wagtail alba has a much darker head with a sharp border between the nape and the mantle in males and diffuse in females. Male yarrellii has almost uniform black for the nape -mantle transition, but the female has a dark crown, lightening to dark grey through the nape and dark grey for the mantle and is often blotchy on the latter.

 

[djw0208]

I think this is a female Pied Wagtail yarrellii. The photo is overexposed (no offence intended) which lightens the image quite a bit. It looks good for a female. White Wagtail alba has a much darker head with a sharp border between the nape and the mantle in males and diffuse in females. Male yarrellii has almost uniform black for the nape -mantle transition, but the female has a dark crown, lightening to dark grey through the nape and dark grey for the mantle and is often blotchy on the latter.

Great, thank you for the pointers.