Wagtails & Pipits in London
6 species matching this filter.
London supports six species of wagtails and pipits, a charming family of slender, ground-loving birds often seen bobbing their tails or bounding across open ground. From the elegant Grey Wagtail gracing the capital's rivers and canals to passage migrants like the Tree Pipit and Yellow Wagtail, these birds can be found across a surprising range of urban and semi-rural habitats. For a broader look at the capital's avian residents, see our guide to the 20 Most Common Birds in London: Gardens, Parks & Urban Hotspots.
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinereaLC
An uncommon year-round resident favouring streams and waterways. Increasingly seen along London's rivers and canals, bobbing its long tail.
Year-round
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensisLC
An uncommon resident found on rough grassland, heathland, and reservoir margins. Numbers increase in autumn as passage birds move through.
Year-round
Rock Pipit
Anthus petrosusLC
A rare non-breeding visitor from October to March, occasionally found along the Thames foreshore and around London's larger reservoirs.
Oct–Mar
Tree Pipit
Anthus trivialisLC
A rare autumn passage migrant, occasionally recorded in open parkland and scrubby areas during August and September on southward migration.
Aug–Sep
Water Pipit
Anthus spinolettaLC
A rare non-breeding visitor to London's reservoirs and watercress beds from October to April. Easily confused with the commoner Meadow Pipit.
Oct–Apr
Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flavaLC
An uncommon summer breeder on wet meadows and marshes at London's edges. Declining nationally, making local sightings increasingly noteworthy.
Apr–Oct