The Czech Ornithological Society (ČSO) has chosen the grey wagtail (Konipas horský) as Bird of the Year 2025. This recognition aims to highlight a lesser-known but widely distributed species and emphasise the importance of natural watercourses for the environment.
The ČSO seeks to raise awareness of the grey wagtail (Konipas horský) by naming it Bird of the Year 2025. Through this title, ornithologists hope to familiarise the public with this common yet often overlooked bird and underscore the vital role of natural watercourses for wildlife, people, and the landscape.
The restoration of freshwater ecosystems is a key objective of the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and the new EU Nature Restoration Regulation. This issue is particularly relevant in the Czech Republic, where the length of watercourses has been reduced by around a third due to technical interventions, significantly diminishing the landscape’s capacity to retain water.
As a rule, normally the ČSO (Česká společnost ornitologická) selects well-known species that are widespread across the country. ‘The grey wagtail primarily favours mountainous and hilly regions, where watercourses have the necessary gradient and characteristic riverbeds. However, it is not confined to higher altitudes and can be found almost everywhere. In Polabí, Dolní Povltaví, and South Moravia, there are nesting sites at elevations below 200 metres above sea level,’ says Zdeněk Vermouzek, Director of the ČSO.
The grey wagtail belongs to the wagtail family. In 1999, the ČSO chose the white wagtail, which is better known and more common than the grey wagtail. While the white wagtail is black and white, the grey wagtail is far more colourful, with a bright yellow underside contrasting against its ash-grey back. The wagtail’s song consists of a series of short, piercing calls that can be heard even over the sound of rushing water.
Česká společnost ornitologická
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