Wagtails & Pipits in Norfolk
6 species matching this filter.
Norfolk's diverse landscapes, from coastal marshes and shingle beaches to river valleys and open farmland, provide excellent habitat for wagtails and pipits throughout the year. Six species from this family have been recorded in the county, including the vibrant Yellow Wagtail, which breeds in Norfolk's damp meadows and arable fields, and the scarce Water Pipit, a prized winter visitor to freshwater marshes. Whether you're exploring the North Norfolk coast or the Broads, these elegant, tail-bobbing birds are a rewarding group to seek out.
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinereaLC
An uncommon resident, scarcer in Norfolk than in western Britain. Found near streams, weirs, and waterways, bobbing its long tail constantly.
Year-round
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensisLC
A common resident found on coastal marshes, heathland and rough grassland year-round, with numbers boosted by winter arrivals.
Year-round
Rock Pipit
Anthus petrosusLC
An uncommon non-breeding visitor to rocky sea walls and saltmarshes along the Norfolk coast from autumn through to early spring.
Sep–Mar
Tree Pipit
Anthus trivialisLC
A rare breeding visitor to Norfolk's heathland and woodland edges, arriving in April. Delivers its distinctive song flight over sites like Salthouse Heath.
Apr–Sep
Water Pipit
Anthus spinolettaLC
A rare winter visitor found at freshwater marshes and watercress beds, most reliably seen at coastal grazing marshes from October to March.
Oct–Mar
Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flavaLC
An uncommon summer breeder arriving in April, favouring damp meadows and arable fields across the Norfolk lowlands.
Apr–Sep