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White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) Alternate name(s): "Pied Wagtail", "Water Wagtail" German name(s): "Bachstelze" Size: 16.5-21 cm; wing span 25-30 cm Body mass: 17-27 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.15-0.20

Europe: Family Group 24 Family Group 24 Table White Wagtail Western Yellow Wagtail Grey Wagtail Tawny Pipit Berthelot's Pipit Red-throated Pipit Tree Pipit Meadow Pipit Water Pipit Eurasian Rock Pipit Greater Short-toed Lark Calandra Lark Woodlark Eurasian Skylark Bearded Reedling House Sparrow Tree Sparrow Spanish Sparrow Rock Sparrow Trumpeter Finch European Serin Atlantic Canary Red-fronted Serin Eurasian Siskin Common Redpoll Arctic Redpoll Twite Common Linnet Brambling Common Chaffinch European Goldfinch Eurasian Bullfinch Hawfinch Common Crossbill Common Rosefinch Yellowhammer Cirl Bunting Common Reed Bunting Little Bunting Ortolan Bunting Black-headed Bunting Corn Bunting Rock Bunting House Bunting Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European birds home page

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description White Wagtails are one of the larger wagtail species. Their plumage is dimorphic, i.e. males and females are different. Male White Wagtails in breeding plumage have a black crown and nape and a prominent black "bib", which contrast with the white frons and sides of the head. The rest of the front is light-grey. The wing coverts are grey, while the flight feathers are darker grey with light-grey edge lining. The tail is black. Female White Wagtails and males in non-breeding plumage are grey where breeding males are black. The irises of both sexes are black. The bill, legs and feet are grey. Juvenile White Wagtails have duller colours than adults, without a prominent facial mask.

Taxonomy, classification See White Wagtail at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the White Wagtail is available HERE . Altogether, the about 10 currently recognized races of White Wagtails have a wide-spanning range. They occur basically all over Europe and in large parts of Asia, but they are very mobile and vagrant birds have been found farther South, through South-east Asia to Australia. Most of Asia to the North of the Himalaya is summer range; South-east Asia, the Indian subcontinent, all of Arabia and parts of the Middle East are winter range, while in southern/central/western Europe and parts of Korea and Japan White Wagtails can be found all year round. Nominate race "alba" is found basically all over Europe and in parts of the Middle East and eastern Africa. Some, especially from the northern parts of their range, will migrate to the South in harsh winters. Race "yarrellii" breeds on the British Isles. They are mostly sedentary, but the northern population that breeds in Scotland is migratory and outside the breeding season some birds are found in south-western Europe.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "alba" D. Wilczynska reports spotting White Wagtails, nominate race "alba", regularly in various locations in central Poland. White Wagtails, race "alba", were also spotted by D. Wilczynska in Bergen, Norway, in May 2016. H. Dahlem-Senger reports spotting White Wagtails, race "alba", at the Grüner Brink, Fehmarn, Germany, in April 2016, and also occasionally in various locations in the Rheingau, Germany. Others were found near Neuharlingersiel, Ostfriesland, Germany, in June 2021. The species was also found at the Edersee, Hessen, Germany, in May 2026. A White Wagtail, nominate race "alba", was caught, ringed and photographed by S. Cuturilov in Ovcarsko-Kablarski Canyon, near Cacak, Serbia, in October 2017. Another was found by A. Sarok in Vojvodina, Serbia, in the timeframe 2010-2024. M. Eaton found White Wagtails, race "alba", near Oslo airport, Oslo, Norway, in June 2018. M. Eaton also detected a White Wagtail, race "alba", in Mequinenza, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain, in September 2019. J. Pires reports spotting White Wagtails, race "alba", regularly in and around Mora, Evora, Portugal. A. Sarok found a White Wagtail, race "alba", in Vojvodina, Serbia, in the timeframe 2010-2024. In the past we used to see White Wagtails, nominate race "alba", regularly along rivers, creeks and streams in various parts of Germany, including e.g. the Eifel, Rheinland-Pfalz. White Wagtails, nominate race "alba", were also found by us in Oman. Race "yarrellii" M. Eaton reports finding a White Wagtail, race "yarrellii", at Land's End, Cornwall, England, in September 2019. J. Pires found White Wagtails, race "yarrellii", in the Tejo estuary, Portugal, and in Mora, Evora, Portugal, in February 2023. C. Pears spotted a White Wagtail, race "yarrellii", at Clonakilty, County Cork, Ireland, in August 2023.

Photos

Race "alba"

ADULT

BREEDING

MALE

Frontal view of a male White Wagtail in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of S. Sarok)
[Vojvodina, Serbia, date unknown]

Frontal view of a male White Wagtail in breeding plumage looking sideways (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Bergen, Norway, May 2016]

Near-frontal view of a male White Wagtail in breeding plumage looking at the observer
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2025]

Near-frontal view of a male White Wagtail in breeding plumage, right, with a juvenile on the left
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Lake Ros, Masurias, Poland, August 2014]

Near-frontal view of a male White Wagtail in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Lake Ros, Masurias, Poland, June 2015]

Near-lateral view of a male White Wagtail in breeding plumage; this is the bird whose calls were recorded on 26 March 2017 (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Brok, Masovia, Poland, March 2017]

Near-lateral view of a male White Wagtail in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Lake Ros, Masurias, Poland, June 2015]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a preening male White Wagtail in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Lake Ros, Masurias, Poland, June 2015]

Lateral view of a male White Wagtail in breeding plumage looking towards the observer
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2025]

Close-up lateral view of a male White Wagtail in breeding plumage on the ground (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Santa Justa, Coruche, Portugal, June 2020]

Lateral view of a male White Wagtail in breeding plumage on the ground (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Lagoa de Albufeira, near Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, February 2020]

Lateral view of a male White Wagtail in breeding plumage on the ground (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vilarelhos, Alfandega da Fe, Alto Tras-os-Montes, Norte, Portugal, May 2018]

Lateral view of a male White Wagtail in breeding plumage on the ground (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]

Near-dorsal view of a male White Wagtail, left, leaving behind two juveniles, right, to fight over a wasp
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Lake Ros, Masurias, Poland, August 2014]

Dorsal view of a male White Wagtail in breeding plumage on the ground (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]

Lateral view of a male White Wagtail in breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Herdade do Esporao, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Evora, Portugal, January 2023]

Size comparison of a White Wagtail in breeding plumage and #3139 (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River near Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2019]

FEMALE

Near-frontal view of a female White Wagtail; note how (as opposed to a male's) the cap is dark-grey, rather than black, to start with, and then the smooth transition from dark-grey to lighter grey down the nape of the neck onto the back
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Edersee, Hessen, Germany, May 2026]

Close-up near-lateral view of a female White Wagtail (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Oslo airport, Oslo, Norway, June 2018]

Lateral view of a female(?) White Wagtail, left, with a juvenile, right (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Lake Ros, Masurias, Poland, August 2014]

Lateral view of a female White Wagtail (photo courtesy of S. Cuturilov)
[Ovcarsko-Kablarski Canyon, near Cacak, Serbia, October 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a female White Wagtail in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, December 2019]

NON-BREEDING

Frontal view of a White Wagtail in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

Frontal view of a White Wagtail in non-breeding plumage looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia river, Santa Justa, Coruche, Portugal, November 2021]

Near-lateral view of a White Wagtail in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, October 2021]

Close-up lateral view of a White Wagtail in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Alhos Vedros, Moita, Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2020]

Lateral view of a White Wagtail in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2019]

Lateral view of a White Wagtail in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)

Near-dorsal view of a White Wagtail in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Alhos Vedros, Moita, Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a White Wagtail in non-breeding plumage with its tail prominently cocked (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a White Wagtail in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, October 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a White Wagtail in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]

Near-dorsal view of a White Wagtail in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Oslo airport, Oslo, Norway, June 2018]

Dorsal view of a White Wagtail in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2021]

Dorsal view of a White Wagtail in non-breeding plumage looking sideways (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]

Dorsal view of a White Wagtail in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Alhos Vedros, Moita, Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2020]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of an immature White Wagtail; note the buff wash on the ear coverts
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2018]

Lateral view of an immature White Wagtail taking off (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, July 2019]

Frontal view of a juvenile White Wagtail (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Lake Ros, Masurias, Poland, August 2014]

Frontal view of a juvenile White Wagtail spreading its wings (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

Near-frontal view of a resting juvenile White Wagtail (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Lake Ros, Masurias, Poland, August 2014]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile White Wagtail looking sideways (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Lake Ros, Masurias, Poland, August 2014]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile White Wagtail (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Lake Ros, Masurias, Poland, August 2014]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile White Wagtail (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Lake Ros, Masurias, Poland, August 2014]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile White Wagtail (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a fledgling White Wagtail (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2022]

Race "yarrellii"

This race is also called the "Pied Wagtail".

ADULT

MALE

BREEDING

Near-lateral view of a male White Wagtail in breeding plumage; note the very dark appearance of race "yarrellii"
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, February 2023]

Lateral view of a male White Wagtail in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2023]

Near-dorsal view of a male White Wagtail in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, February 2023]

FEMALE

Lateral view of a female White Wagtail (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Clonakilty, County Cork, Ireland, August 2023]

Dorsal view of a female White Wagtail looking sideways (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Clonakilty, County Cork, Ireland, August 2023]

Sex unknown

NON-BREEDING

Frontal view of a White Wagtail in non-breeding plumage on the ground (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2020]

Lateral view of a White Wagtail in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Land's End, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Lateral view of a White Wagtail in non-breeding plumage on the ground (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2020]

Lateral view of a White Wagtail in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, December 2019]

Lateral view of a White Wagtail in non-breeding plumage on the ground (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2020]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Partially migratory

Elementary unit: Solitary/pair/family clan

In the southern and western parts of their European range White Wagtails are sedentary. Elsewhere they are migratory.

As all wagtails of the genus Motacilla, White Wagtails constantly wag their tails in an up and down motion.

Food, Diet

Like all Motacilla wagtails known to us, White Wagtails are insectivores.

Lateral view of a White Wagtail with its catch, a caterpillar (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, December 2019]

Lateral view of a juvenile White Wagtail with prey, a flying insect (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Evora, Portugal, July 2019]

Near-lateral view of a male White Wagtail with food for its brood (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a White Wagtail in non-breeding plumage with its prey, a flying insect (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, October 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a White Wagtail with its prey, a spider (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Divor river, Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2021]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

whitwag_dw_20190407.m4a	alba (Poland)	Contact call(?)	© DW
whitwag_jp_20200117.m4a	alba (Portugal)	Contact calls(?)	© JP
whitwag_dw_20190715.m4a	alba (Poland)	Contact calls(?)	© DW
whitwag_dw_20190715_2.m4a	alba (Poland)	Contact calls(?)	© DW
whitwag_dw_20170326.m4a	alba (Poland)	Contact calls(?); male	© DW
whitwag_dw_20200726.m4a	alba (Poland)	Alarm calls (cat)	© DW

More White Wagtail sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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