"Pied wagtail" redirects here. For the related African bird, see African pied wagtail.
White wagtail
Female, first summer
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Aves
Order:
Passeriformes
Family:
Motacillidae
Genus:
Motacilla
Species:
M. alba
Binomial name
Motacilla alba
Linnaeus, 1758
Global map of eBird reports
Year-round range
Summer range
Winter range
The white wagtail (Motacilla alba) is a small passerine bird in the family Motacillidae, which also includes pipits and longclaws. The species breeds in much of Europe and the Asian Palearctic and parts of North Africa. It has a toehold in Alaska as a scarce breeder. It is resident in the mildest parts of its range, but otherwise migrates to Africa. In Ireland and Great Britain, the darker subspecies, the pied wagtail or water wagtail[2] (M. a. yarrellii) predominates; this is also called in Ireland willie wagtail,[3][4] not to be confused with the Australian species Rhipidura leucophrys which bears the same common name.[5] In total, there are between 9 and 11 subspecies of M. alba.
The white wagtail is an insectivorous bird of open country, often near habitation and water.[6] It prefers bare areas for feeding, where it can see and pursue its prey. In urban areas, it has adapted to foraging on paved areas such as car parks. It nests in crevices in stone walls and similar natural and human-made structures.[6]
It is the national bird of Latvia and has featured on the stamps of several countries.[7] Though it is 'of least concern', there are several threats against it, like being kept as pets and being used as food.
^BirdLife International (2019). "Motacilla alba". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T22718348A137417893. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T22718348A137417893.en. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
^Water wagtail collinsdictionary.com
^Fewer, Michael (March 2, 2020). A Natural Year: The Tranquil Rhythms and Restorative Powers of Irish Nature Through the Seasons. Merrion Press. ISBN 9781785373206 – via Google Books.
^Colton, Stephen (February 23, 2019). "Take on Nature: Pied Wagtails make a poignant appearance". The Irish News.
^Ashdown, Robert (July 3, 2012). "The spirited Wagtail".
^ abHunter, Fact (2013-03-18). "Bird's Lifestyle: White Wagtail - National Bird of Latvia". Bird's Lifestyle. Retrieved 2019-01-18.
The whitewagtail (Motacilla alba) is a small passerine bird in the family Motacillidae, which also includes pipits and longclaws. The species breeds...
his Systema Naturae. The type species is the whitewagtail. Motacilla is the Latin name for the pied wagtail; although actually a diminutive of motare,...
The willie wagtail (also spelt willy wagtail), scientific name Rhipidura leucophrys, is a passerine bird native to Australia, New Guinea, the Solomon...
African pied wagtail, or African wagtail, (Motacilla aguimp) is a species of bird in the family Motacillidae. A striking black and whitewagtail with black...
The western yellow wagtail (Motacilla flava) is a small passerine in the wagtail family Motacillidae, which also includes the pipits and longclaws. This...
The grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) is a member of the wagtail family, Motacillidae, measuring around 18–19 cm overall length. The species looks somewhat...
The forest wagtail (Dendronanthus indicus) is a medium-sized passerine bird in the wagtail family Motacillidae. It has a distinctive plumage that sets...
(often abbreviated M. a. alba) is the nominotypical subspecies of the whitewagtail (Motacilla alba). The subspecies name that repeats the species name...
The citrine wagtail (Motacilla citreola) is a small songbird in the family Motacillidae. The term citrine, and the specific name citreola, refers to its...
ornithologist Sam Veasna. It is a black and white bird, similar in appearance to the African pied wagtail, although their ranges do not overlap. Its facial...
daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare, Latvian: pīpene) its national flower. The whitewagtail (Motacilla alba, Latvian: baltā cielava) is Latvia's national bird....
wagtail (Motacilla grandis) is a species of bird in the pipit and wagtail family Motacillidae. It is native to Japan and Korea. The Japanese wagtail is...
and Sri Lanka junglefowl are among of the breeding resident birds. Whitewagtail and black-capped kingfisher are rare migrants. A variety of water birds...
Moorland areas of Great Britain and Ireland. Pied wagtail – British subspecies of the pied / whitewagtail–throughout British Isles. Shetland wren – Shetland...
numbers at the lake. The other birds seen now are the grey heron, white-browed wagtail and blue-tailed bee-eaters. The lake was also home for a large species...
Poland: The White Eagle". Info-Poland.buffalo.edu. Archived from the original on 10 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016. "Poland salutes the white stork"...
residents include Eurasian kestrels, little owls, European rollers, whitewagtails, black redstarts, Eurasian jackdaws, and Spanish sparrows. Active nests...
Global Information
