Wagtails & Pipits in Leicestershire
5 species matching this filter.
Leicestershire supports five species of wagtails and pipits, a charming group of slender, ground-loving birds found across the county's varied habitats. From the Grey Wagtail bobbing along rocky streams and rivers to the Yellow Wagtail gracing lowland farmland in summer, these birds are excellent indicators of habitat quality. The county's mix of waterways, meadows, and scattered woodland also provides important breeding and passage habitat for Meadow Pipits and Tree Pipits.
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinereaLC
An uncommon resident found along streams, rivers, and canal towpaths. Bobs its long tail constantly while foraging at the water's edge.
Year-round
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensisLC
An uncommon resident of rough grassland and moorland fringes in the county. Numbers may increase in winter with birds from upland areas.
Year-round
Rock Pipit
Anthus petrosusLC
A rare passage visitor, occasionally recorded at reservoirs in October. A coastal species well inland, making any sighting noteworthy.
Oct
Tree Pipit
Anthus trivialisLC
A rare breeding visitor to open woodland and heathland edges, delivering its distinctive parachuting song flight in spring.
Apr–Aug
Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flavaLC
A rare and declining summer breeder associated with lowland pastures and river floodplains, arriving from April.
Apr–Sep