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Hi everyone,

I phototgraphed this juvenile bird some time ago and I can't identify it, so I was hoping someone can help! It was running (still couldn't fly) and calling on the sandy shore of a river in southern Bulgaria. It was a bit bigger than a sparrow and it was wagging it's bottom like a Wagtail without a tail Any idea?

I'd go for a juvenile Grey Wagtail, minus the tail. The colour, river habitat and tail-wagging behaviour suggest this, or a similar species.

Daniel, thanks for the reply but I'm not really sure! Some kind of Wagtail was my first guess too because of the behaviour, but when I checked in books and interenet it didn't look like any of the Wagtail species that we have in Bulgaria! All Wagtails I saw had their tail even at this age..and this bird doesn't! I doubt it lost it but..who knows!?

White wagtail youngster, according to one of my bird expert colleagues.

Ok, I'll put it with my other White Wagtail photos! Jeroen, did your friend said anything about why the tail is missing? It should be there, I think, judging by the development of the other feathers!

Hi

Only just joined the group, so looking through old threads!

Yes, the bird is a very young juvenile White wagtail. Grey wagtail wouldn't show the white wingbars; the only other species which shows this is Citrine wagtail, which wouldn't show this head pattern.

You will notice the flight feathers (primaries) have not started growing yet, and these feathers plus the tail feathers are the last to fully grow on a young passerine. This bird may have come out of the nest too early, perhaps disturbed by a predator, as it seems a little too young to be fending for itself.

Hope this helps.

Sean

according to one of my bird expert colleagues.

You certainly refer to Jürgen here, don´t you?