Pied Wagtails in Finland
When the Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba) is present in Finland, when it nests, and which native Finland plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Finland
- Summer visitor
- Nesting season
- May–July
- Size
- 18 cm, 21 g
- Nest box
- Does not use enclosed boxes
When to expect pied wagtails in Finland
The Pied Wagtail arrives in Finland in spring to breed and leaves again in autumn. Brief, bright summers; nesting is compressed into May–July.
Boreal continental, forested and lake-strewn.
Nesting in Finland
In Finland the Pied Wagtail usually nests May–July. Nest site: crevices in walls and sheds. Clutches are 5–6 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days; chicks fledge after 13–16 days, and pairs raise 2 per year.
- The Pied Wagtail does not use enclosed nest boxes — dense native shrubs and climbers give it nest sites.
- Avoid cutting hedges during the nesting season (roughly March to August) — in the UK, disturbing an active nest is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Native Finland plants for pied wagtails
Of the native plants we track for Finland, these 8 provide food the Pied Wagtail uses:
Haws feed thrushes all winter; spring blossom supports hundreds of insect species.
Thorny cover that protects nests; early blossom for insects.
Blackberries and impenetrable nesting cover.
Catkin seed for Siskins and Redpolls; many caterpillars for tit broods.
Cones hold seed that Siskins and Goldfinches feed on all winter.
Hazelnuts for Nuthatches, Jays and Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
Pine seed for Coal Tits, Crested Tits and Crossbills.
Cone seed for Siskins and Coal Tits; Goldcrest nesting habitat.
Feeding in the garden
Insects.
- Best foods: Mealworms.
- Feeders: Ground tray.
- Roosts in towns in winter, even in supermarket trees.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Are pied wagtails in Finland all year?
No. The Pied Wagtail is a summer visitor to Finland, arriving to breed and leaving in autumn.
When do pied wagtails nest in Finland?
Typically May–July. Clutches are 5–6 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days, with 2 per year.
Which native plants help pied wagtails in Finland?
Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Bramble, Silver birch, Alder, Hazel, Scots pine, Norway spruce are native to Finland and provide food or cover the Pied Wagtail uses.
Pied Wagtails in other countries
Other garden birds in Finland
Sources
- Pied Wagtail — RSPB bird guide
- Pied Wagtail — BTO BirdFacts
- Finnish Bird Atlas — Finnish Museum of Natural History
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.