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Books about Wagtails

The books are listed in order of publication date with the most recent at the top.


Wagtails

Family: Motacillidae

In the UK

White Wagtail
Motacilla alba

Pied Wagtail
Motacilla alba yarrellii

Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinerea

Western Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flava
(some subspecies)

Also on the UK list

Citrine Wagtail
Motacilla citreola

 

Pipits and Wagtails of Europe, Asia and North America

Per Alstrom & Krister Mild

Illustrations: Bill Zetterstrom, Per Alstrom

Christopher Helm

2003

Same work as the Princeton edition below

This book covers the 26 species of northern hemisphere pipits and wagtails. 26 full color plates and some part plates depict all the species and distinct subspecies in different plumages. As a further aid to identification there are nearly 250 color photographs, numerous line drawings, and color distribution maps for each species. The text covers all aspects of identification: taxonomy, size and structure, plumage, geographical variation, anatomical measurements, molt and aging, sexing, voice, behavior, distribution, and habitat. The book also includes sonograms of the species' unique songs and calls.

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Pipits and Wagtails

Per Alstrom & Krister Mild

Illustrations: Bill Zetterstrom, Per Alstrom

Princeton University Press

2003

"Pipits and Wagtails is the first comprehensive, one-volume guide to the twenty-six species and all subspecies that occur in the vast swath of Europe, Asia, and North America known as the Holarctic. These birds are a notoriously difficult group to differentiate, and so the authors - the world's two leading authorities in this field - have gone to exhaustive lengths to ensure that no aspect of identification has been omitted. Twenty-six full color plates and some part plates depict all the species and distinct subspecies in different plumages. To help further with identification, the book includes nearly 250 color photographs, numerous line drawings, and color distribution maps for each species. The detailed species accounts cover all aspects of identification: taxonomy, size and structure, plumage, geographical variation, anatomical measurements, molt and aging, sexing, voice, behavior, distribution, and habitat. They also include sonograms of the species' unique songs and calls. Great care has been taken to accurately illustrate and describe plumage differences between all valid subspecies as well as differences relating to sex and aging. Unparalleled in breadth and detail, Pipits and Wagtails is the ultimate reference guide for anyone interested in this group of birds."

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British Larks, Pipits and Wagtails

Eric Simms

Collins

New Naturalist Series (78)

1992

"The aim of this book is to review the British larks, pipits and wagtails. There are three broad introductory chapters on their emergence and range and on the chief characteristics of the genera. Single chapters are devoted to eleven separate species, while two cover the rarer migrants or vagrants on the British list. The last two chapters deal with the movements of the major species and the author's personal view of the current future status of these birds in Britain. This book is in the classic mould of New Naturalist volumes, giving a comprehensive description of the biology of an important part of Britain's birdlife."

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On The Species And Races Of The Yellow Wagtails From Western Europe To Western North America

C.H.B. Grant

British Museum

1952

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The Yellow Wagtail

Stuart Smith

Collins

The New Naturalist Monograph 4

1950

A study of the Yellow Wagtail based on the results of years of observation and research. 178 pages with colour plates, maps and black and white photographs.

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Wagtails

W. Warde Fowler

Editor: H. E. Dresser

Educational Series No. 13

Society for the Protection of Birds

1890's

A 4 page guide that covers the Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail and Yellow Wagtail. Provides a brief description and information on distribution, numbers, food, characteristics, protection, plus one page of general remarks.

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Catalogue Of The Passeriformes or Perching Birds In The Collection Of The British Museum

Fringilliformes: Part I, containing the families Dicaeidae, Hirundinidae, Ampelidae, Mniotiltidae and Motacillidae

Catalogue Of The Birds In The British Museum, Volume X

R. Bowdler Sharpe

12 colour plates: J.G. Keulemans

Printed By Order Of The Trustees

Printed by Taylor & Francis

1885

From the introduction:

"In the present volume 448 species are described, represented by 4590 specimens. Of these the Museum contains the types of 88, and 52 species are still desiderata to the collection. The series of Neotropical birds has been rendered wonderfully complete by the addition of the collections of Dr. Sclater and of Messrs. Salvin and Godman; whilst through the hearty co-operation of Professor Baird, on behalf of the United-States National Museum, numerous valuable North- American birds have been received during the past year. The collection of the Old-World species of the families described in the present volume is also tolerably perfect; and many of the migratory species are represented by series of specimens illustrating their geographical distribution in a full and satisfactory manner. Much remains to be done to complete our knowledge of the changes of plumage of the Wagtails and Pipits. In my study of the latter birds I have not relied solely on the series in the British Museum, but I have likewise examined the collections of Canon Tristram, Capt. Wardlaw-Eamsay, Capt. Shelley, Mr. Seebohm, and Mr. F. Nicholson, to each of whom I return my thanks."
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Last updated September 2013