White Wagtail

Motacilla alba

The specific reason for their constant tail-wagging is debated, but it is likely a signal to predators that the bird is alert and difficult to ambush.

Scientific name

Motacilla alba

Taxonomy

Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Motacillidae › Motacilla

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Population trend

stable

Biome

urban

Habitat

Open country, riverbanks, farms, and increasingly common in urban parks and paved areas.

Diet

Mainly insects, including flies, beetles, and small dragonflies, often caught mid-air or on the ground.

Range

Europe, Asia, North Africa, Alaska

Size

16.5-19 cm in length, 17-25g in weight

Lifespan

2-5 years

Active

diurnal

Threats

Intensive agriculture and pesticide use which reduce insect populations; loss of nesting sites in modern architecture.

Safe to approach?

Entirely harmless to humans. These birds are bold and often forage in open view; observe their unique tail-wagging behavior from a few meters away. Do not attempt to catch or handle them.

The white wagtail ( Motacilla alba ) is a small passerine bird in the wagtail family Motacillidae, which also includes the pipits and longclaws. This species breeds in much of Europe and Asia and parts of north Africa. It is resident in the mildest parts of its range, but otherwise migrates to Africa. It has a toehold in Alaska as a scarce breeder. In Ireland and Great Britain the darker sub-species the pied wagtail ( M. a. yarrellii ) predominates.

Photo: Kim, Hyun-tae, CC-BY, via iNaturalist

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