White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

White Wagtails are black, white, and gray birds found across much of Eurasia and rarely seen in most of the United States. Their markings vary by region and season, and they walk or run over open ground while repeatedly pumping their long tails.

Appearance

Appearance: All forms combine black, white, and gray, but the placement of those colors changes among and seasons. A long black tail with white outer edges is a strong field mark.

Look-alikes

Eastern Yellow WagtailMotacilla tschutschensis

Breeding adults are yellow below, while White Wagtails show black, white, and gray. Young Eastern Yellow Wagtails (Motacilla tschutschensis) can be much paler, so a distant photo may be harder to judge.

Why they get mixed upBoth breed in Alaska and walk through open places while wagging a long tail.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: western Alaska coastal villages
low sea cliffs
gravel river flats
Range: The species breeds across much of Eurasia and in small numbers in western Alaska and Greenland. Elsewhere in the United States it is a rare stray, including along the Pacific Coast.
Seasonal presence: In western Alaska it is a scarce, local summer breeder. Most of the species' range lies outside North America.
When it’s recorded: Recorded Sep–Apr most years
292 observations in the US · 10 years · for reference

Behavior

Diet: White Wagtails mainly eat insects and spiders.
Activity: It walks and runs over open ground while repeatedly pumping its long tail.

Life cycle

Breeding season: Small numbers breed in western Alaska during summer.
Nest: In Alaska, nests have been found in sheltered spaces around coastal buildings and other structures.

Name and classification

About the name: Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii) refers specifically to the British subspecies, not to every White Wagtail.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction
Status: The population is very large.

12 sources