White Wagtail

The white wagtail (Motacilla alba) is a small passerine bird in the family Motacillidae, which also includes pipits and longclaws. The species breeds in much of Europe and the Asian Palearctic and parts of North Africa. It has a toehold in Alaska as a scarce breeder. It is resident in the mildest parts of its range, but otherwise migrates to Africa. In Ireland and Great Britain, the darker subspecies, the pied wagtail or water wagtail[2] (M. a. yarrellii) predominates. In total, there are between 9 and 11 subspecies. As many as six subspecies may be present in the wintering ground in India or Southeast Asia and here they can be difficult to distinguish.

Scientific Name : Motacilla Alba

Family : Motacillidae

Order : Passeriformes

Class : Aves

Type : Wagtails And Pipits

Conservation Status : Least concern (LC)

Size : 16.5 - 19 cm

Compare Size : House Sparrow +

Wingspan : 25 - 30 cm

Weight : 17 -27 g

Migratory : Migrant

Sex Alike : Yes

Nesting Season : April - August

Other Names :

Hindi : धोबन, सफ़ेद खंजन

Marathi : पांढरा धोबी, टेंबली

Habitat:
open country, often near human habitation and water

Breeding:
Eggs - 4 to 6, White, Freckled and spotted with reddish brown

Feeding:
range from beetles, dragonflies, small snails, spiders, worms, crustaceans, to maggots found in carcasses and, most importantly, flies. Small fish fry have also been recorded in the diet.


Identification Features

Male & Female
Note :
As many as six subspecies may be present in the wintering ground in India or Southeast Asia and here they can be difficult to distinguish. Overall variable black and white plumage with black ranging from dark-black to grey

SIGHTINGS

Date Location
2019-01-31 31 Jan 2019 Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Rajasthan

Similar Birds

(Wagtails And Pipits)