Appearance:

Grey and white wagtail with prominent black markings on head and breast. British Isles subspecies M.a.yarreli (Pied Wagtail) with black back, and M.a.alba (continental) with grey back. Only faint black markings on head in juveniles and in winter plumage, but always shows big dark breast patch. Unmistakable in breeding plumage. Pale individuals of Yellow Wagtail and Citrine Wagtail, differs in lacking large breast patch, and in contact call.

Sound:

Contact calls short and sharp. Usually with disyllabic, "bouncing" quality, and with each syllable only accented, not clearly separated from the other (see Grey Wagtail). Song either slow and primitive, consisting of sharp falling notes given by perched birds, or longer fast and energic bursts in excited song-flight.

Song/contact call:

Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Appearance:

Dark (or brownish) legs and dark bill (in summer). Diffuse, but heavy streaking below, gives underparts a smoky appearance. The whole bird appears darker than other pipits. Outer tail feathers greyish white. Underside of wings dark. Bill noticeably longer and heavier than in Meadow Pipit. Breeding plumage has less streaked underparts, lighter grey upperparts and pink tinge to chest. Very similar to Water Pipit.

Sound:

Song very similar to Meadow Pipit but much louder. Starting notes often with masked double accents, giving it a hammering tone. Terminal trill stronger and more pronounced. Flight call a very sibilant, rippling "weesst", more drawn than in Meadow Pipit. Usually given as clearly separated single calls, but sometimes in quick successions like M. Pipit. Alarm call a sharp "tseet". All sounds very similar to Water Pipit.

Song, contact call, song:

Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Sounds:Recorded by Michele Peron, Jarek Matusiek,http://www.xeno-canto.org ,CC license