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bird index
Wagtails and pipits
Order:
Passeriformes Family:
Motacillidae Links:
Wagtails and
pipits
The Motacillidae are a family
of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They are slender,
ground-feeding insectivores of open country. There are about 66 species
worldwide, 15 in Britain.
Two break into sub species, or
races, one of each only is included in each, although both in each case may be
encountered. [latin names]
White Wagtail, [Motacilla
alba]. Two races Link:
White Wagtail
-
[Motacilla
alba. Alba] , nominate subspecies occurring as a migrant)
-
[Motacilla
alba. Yarrelli], Pied Wagtail, subspecies breeding in Britain.
Blue-headed
Wagtail, [Motacilla flava] Link:
Blue-headed Wagtail
-
Blue-headed Wagtail [Motacilla flava. Flava], nominate subspecies occurring as
a migrant.
-
Yellow Wagtail
[Motacilla flava. Flavissima], subspecies breeding in Britain.
The Pied and
Yellow are at the top of our listing.
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