White Wagtail
The White Wagtail, Motacilla alba, is a small passerine bird in the wagtail family. A number of sub-species are recognised including Motacilla alba alba found in Europe from the Iberian Peninsula to the Ural Mountains, Turkey, the Levant, Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland's east coast and Motacilla alba yarrellii (Pied Wagtail) found in the UK and Ireland and which has a much blacker back than the nominate race.
The nominate sub-species Motacilla alba alba is basically grey above and white below with a white face, black cap and black throat. It is a slender bird with a characteristic long tail. The most conspicuous habit of the White Wagtail is a near-constant tail wagging, a trait that has given the bird its common name. In spite of the ubiquity of this behaviour, the reasons for it are poorly understood. It has been suggested that it may flush prey or signal submissiveness to other wagtails. A recent study has suggested instead that it is a signal of vigilance to potential predators.
The White Wagtail breeds throughout Eurasia up to latitudes 75°N, only being absent in the Arctic from areas where summer temperatures are less than 4 °C. It also breeds in the mountains of Morocco and western Alaska. It is resident in the milder parts of its range such as western Europe and the Mediterranean but migratory in much of the rest of its range. Northern European breeders winter around the Mediterranean and in tropical and subtropical Africa, Asiatic birds move to the Middle East, India and south east Asia and birds from the north American population also winter in tropical Asia.
The White Wagtail has a wide range and whilst the population size is unknown it is believed to be large since the species is described as "common" in at least parts of its range. Population trends have not been quantified but the population in Europe appears to be stable and it has adapted well to human changes to the environment and has exploited human changes such as man-made structures that are used for nesting sites and increased open areas that are used for foraging.
The White Wagtail is an insectivorous bird of open country, often near habitation and water. 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 and holes in stone walls and similar natural and man-made structures such as bridges and buildings.
The diet of the White Wagtail varies by location but terrestrial and aquatic insects and other small invertebrates form the major part of the diet. These range from beetles, dragonflies, small snails, spiders, worms and crustaceans to maggots found in carcasses and flies. It is somewhat unusual in the parts of its range where it is non-migratory as it is an insectivorous bird that continues to feed on insects during the winter when most other insectivorous birds in temperate climates migrate or switch to more vegetable matter. Though it is known to be a host species for the Cuckoo, the White Wagtail typically deserts its nest if it has been parasitised.
Date: 10th May 2016
Location: Haapsalu, Estonia
The nominate sub-species Motacilla alba alba is basically grey above and white below with a white face, black cap and black throat. It is a slender bird with a characteristic long tail. The most conspicuous habit of the White Wagtail is a near-constant tail wagging, a trait that has given the bird its common name. In spite of the ubiquity of this behaviour, the reasons for it are poorly understood. It has been suggested that it may flush prey or signal submissiveness to other wagtails. A recent study has suggested instead that it is a signal of vigilance to potential predators.
The White Wagtail breeds throughout Eurasia up to latitudes 75°N, only being absent in the Arctic from areas where summer temperatures are less than 4 °C. It also breeds in the mountains of Morocco and western Alaska. It is resident in the milder parts of its range such as western Europe and the Mediterranean but migratory in much of the rest of its range. Northern European breeders winter around the Mediterranean and in tropical and subtropical Africa, Asiatic birds move to the Middle East, India and south east Asia and birds from the north American population also winter in tropical Asia.
The White Wagtail has a wide range and whilst the population size is unknown it is believed to be large since the species is described as "common" in at least parts of its range. Population trends have not been quantified but the population in Europe appears to be stable and it has adapted well to human changes to the environment and has exploited human changes such as man-made structures that are used for nesting sites and increased open areas that are used for foraging.
The White Wagtail is an insectivorous bird of open country, often near habitation and water. 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 and holes in stone walls and similar natural and man-made structures such as bridges and buildings.
The diet of the White Wagtail varies by location but terrestrial and aquatic insects and other small invertebrates form the major part of the diet. These range from beetles, dragonflies, small snails, spiders, worms and crustaceans to maggots found in carcasses and flies. It is somewhat unusual in the parts of its range where it is non-migratory as it is an insectivorous bird that continues to feed on insects during the winter when most other insectivorous birds in temperate climates migrate or switch to more vegetable matter. Though it is known to be a host species for the Cuckoo, the White Wagtail typically deserts its nest if it has been parasitised.
Date: 10th May 2016
Location: Haapsalu, Estonia
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Also in: Estonia
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