Wagtails and Pipits

The Motacillidae are slim, ground-living small birds known for their long tails and constant movement. Wagtails have striking feather patterns and keep wagging their long tails, while pipits have more camouflaged, streaky brown feathers and prefer open areas where they walk instead of hopping. All birds in this group have thin bills suited for catching small insects and show white feathers on the outer part of their tails when flying. These birds live in open places across Britain and around the world, such as meadows near water, farmland, high moorlands, and coastal areas. Most of these birds are very vocal, making unique calls during their up-and-down flight. Some species in Britain migrate, while others stay all year. Their way of searching for food on the ground and their upright posture make them easy to spot, even though their colours can be quite plain. This is especially true when they are feeding carefully among short plants or on bare soil.