White Wagtail

The White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) is a small passerine 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.

This 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.

This is a slender bird, 16.5-19 cm in length, with the characteristic long, constantly wagging tail of its genus. The nominate subspecies Motacilla alba alba is basically grey above and white below, with a white face, black cap and black throat.

The resident British subspecies, the (British) Pied Wagtail (M. a. yarrellii) exchanges the grey color with black (or very dark grey in females), but is otherwise identical in its behaviour.

It is likely that the differentiation of White Wagtail into two subspecies in western Europe has arisen because of the partial isolation of the mainly resident British form, although M. a. yarrellii now also breeds in adjacent areas of the neighbouring European mainland.

In addition, there are a number of other subspecies, the validity of some are questionable, while others are sometimes proposed as constituting distinct species. They differ in the color of the wings, back, and head, or other features; e.g.

On the other hand, mtDNA cytochrome b and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 sequence data (Voelker, 2002) suggests that these birds are polyphyletic or paraphyletic. While the White Wagtail appears to form a superspecies with the Japanese and White-browed Wagtails (and possibly the Mekong Wagtail, the phylogenetic position of which is mysterious), the internal systematics of the White Wagtail are still unresolved at present.