White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)

Bird · GBIF taxon 9687165

White Wagtail

Motacilla alba

Also known as Pied Wagtail, Water Wagtail

White wagtails are slender, high-energy songbirds recognized by their constant up-and-down tail pumping and erratic ground-running foraging style. They thrive alongside humans in car parks, farmyards, and urban plazas just as readily as along gravel riverbanks and exposed mudflats. Outside the breeding season, thousands often assemble to roost communally in city trees, reedbeds, or sheltered greenhouse roofs for collective warmth.

InsectivoreMigratorySongbird

1 / 5

Licensed referenceJac. Janssen from BAARLO LB, NL / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by

—observations

—countries

—peak records

Least ConcernConservation status

Key facts

Diet & prey

Midges and flies
Aquatic fly larvae
Spiders

Predators

Domestic cat
Eurasian sparrowhawk
Common kestrel

ThreatsPesticide exposure, loss of insect biomass, and severe winter cold snaps

HabitatsOpen countryside, lake margins, riverbanks, agricultural land, and urban pavements

Life span3–5 years in the wild

Size / weightNot available

Classification

OrderPasseriformes
FamilyMotacillidae
GenusMotacilla
SpeciesMotacilla alba

Range & activity

Range data is not available yet.

Safe observation

Interaction riskLow

Low
Moderate
High
Very high

Why interaction risk is low: Safe to observe at a normal distance.

Responsible observation

Listen for Calls: Watch for a bouncing, undulating flight accompanied by a sharp, two-syllable 'chiss-ick' call.
Scan Hard Surfaces: Look for them dashing across open tarmac, rooftops, and shoreline rocks where insects land.
Give Space: Maintain a moderate distance so foraging birds can run uninterrupted without taking flight.

Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?

Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.

Checking your Fauna account…