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GREY WAGTAIL
Motacilla cinerea
Grey Wagtail © Colin Varndell
 

• Population
  changes

• Productivity
  trends

• Additional
  information
Conservation listings
Europe: no SPEC category (favourable conservation status in Europe, not concentrated in Europe)
UK: amber (25–50% population decline)
Long-term trend
UK: probable shallow decline
UK population size
38,400–46,200 pairs in 2000 (1988–91 Atlas estimate updated using CBC and WBS trends: BiE04, APEP06)
Status summary
Grey Wagtails occur at highest densities along fast-flowing upland streams. WBS shows a fluctuating population size along waterways, with a fall during the late 1970s and early 1980s from an initial high point in 1974, and some increase since the late 1990s. The species has recently been moved from the green to the amber list, because of a 41% decline recorded between 1975 and 1999. BBS figures showed an initial ten-year phase of increase, which has now stabilised. The trends for Grey Wagtail are very similar to those for Pied Wagtail, suggesting that similar factors may be affecting these two species. Clutch and brood size of Grey Wagtails rose as the population fell, and are now getting smaller again, raising NRS concern (Leech & Barimore 2008). Nest failure rates have dropped substantially. Grey Wagtails are estimated to have declined by 54% across Europe during 1982–2005 (PECBMS 2007).
 

Population changes
WBS UK graph
 
Table of population changes for Grey Wagtail

Source Period
(yrs)		 Years Plots
(n)		 Change
(%)		 Lower
limit		 Upper
limit		 Alert Comment
WBS waterways 31 1975-2006 55 -23 -44 0    
  25 1981-2006 57 35 9 60    
  10 1996-2006 53 32 14 48    
  5 2001-2006 48 11 -3 22    
BBS UK 11 1995-2006 192 40 18 62    
  10 1996-2006 196 43 20 60    
  5 2001-2006 235 -5 -14 4    
BBS England 11 1995-2006 124 48 22 73    
  10 1996-2006 128 49 27 70    
  5 2001-2006 155 6 -4 14    

BBS acknowledgement
 
BBS UK graph
BBS England graph
 

Productivity trends
Table of productivity changes for Grey Wagtail

Variable Period
(yrs)		 Years Mean
annual
sample		 Trend Modelled
in first year		 Modelled
in 2006		 Change Comment
Clutch size 38 1968-2006 38 Curvilinear 4.68 eggs 4.65 eggs -0.7%  
Brood size 38 1968-2006 80 Curvilinear 3.95 chicks 3.95 chicks 0.1%  
Daily failure rate (eggs) 38 1968-2006 59 None        
Daily failure rate (chicks) 38 1968-2006 58 Linear decline 2.06% nests/day 0.98% nests/day -52.4%  
Laying date 38 1968-2006 60 None        

 
Clutch size graph
Brood size graph
Egg nest failure graph
Chick nest failure graph
Laying date graph

 

 

Insufficient data on CES
available for this species
 

Additional information
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This report should be cited as:
Baillie, S.R., Marchant, J.H., Leech, D.I., Joys, A.C., Noble, D.G.,
Barimore, C., Grantham, M.J., Risely, K. & Robinson, R.A. (2009).
Breeding Birds in the Wider Countryside: their conservation status 2008.
BTO Research Report No. 516. BTO, Thetford. (http://www.bto.org/birdtrends)

Pages maintained by Iain Downie, Mandy T Andrews and Laura Smith: Last updated 18.02.2009