- Motacilla alba
Includes: Black-backed Wagtail; Amur Wagtail; Himalayan Wagtail
Identification
16.5–19 cm. Grey above and white below, with a white face, black cap and black throat. Lugens is black above with white wings.
Distribution
Widespread and abundant from Iceland, northern Norway and Novaya Zemlya south to the north Mediterranean coast and North-West Africa. In the Mediterranean breeds on Sicily and Crete, irregularly on Sardinia and Cyprus. Continental race alba is a rare breeder in Britain.
Eastern subspecies breed in Siberia, Japan, Korea, China and the Himalyas.
A summer visitor to the north and east, resident elsewhere. Widespread throughout southern Europe and around the Mediterranean in winter with some migrants wintering in tropical Africa and Asia.
Vagrants recorded north to Bear Island, Jan Mayen and Svalbard and south to the Azores, Madeira and Cape Verde Islands.
Taxonomy
There are two races Yarelli in Great Britain and Ireland alba in continental Europe. Yarelli has a white face, black back (female greyer), cap & chin with a long tail. Alba has a grey back lighter than Yarelli female.
The bird pictured is of subspecies personata ranging from central Siberia to NW Mongolia, n Iran, Afghanistan and n India.
Subspecies Several races occur in the region, the nominate alba over the greater part of Europe and Turkey. M.a.yarrellii is found in the British Isles and coastal North-Western Europe, differs from nominate in black rather than grey back and dukhunensis from southern Russia and the Caucasus has paler back than alba and broader white markings on wings. East Iranian race personata winters in Iraq, has head and breast black with white forehead and mask around eye, recorded as a vagrant in Germany. West and central Iranian persica, also winters in Iraq, perhaps not a valid race, intermediate between personata and either alba or dukhunensis. Moroccan birds of race subpersonata have head and breast black with white forehead, eye-ring, lower cheek and sides of neck. This race has been recorded as a vagrant in France. Lugens is sometimes accepted as full species (Black-backed Wagtail) and is found in eastern Siberia, Korea and Japan. Leucopsis and alboides are part of this complex and breed further south. Some split them as Himalayan Wagtail (Motacilla alboides also known as Hodgson's Wagtail) and Amur Wagtail (Motacilla leucopsis) from Black-backed Wagtail.
There are, at present, eight subspecies accepted by Sibley-Monroe; alba, yarrellii, subpersonata, persica, dukhunensis, personata, baicalensis and ocularis, Clements accepts eleven (adding lugens, leucopsis and alboides).
Habitat
Open areas with some vegetation from Arctic regions and high mountains to semi-deserts and sea-coasts. Usually beside freshwater including ditches, streams, rivers and from pools up to the largest lakes and reservoirs. Also occurs away from water on farmland, frequently in farmyards and in town parks and gardens. Often forms large roosts in winter.
Behaviour
Can be seen throughout year, some North-South migration takes place.
Flight
Markedly undulating flight.
Breeding
Nest a grass cup in hole or crevice can be found in a bank, cliff, woodpile or shed
Diet
Can be seen scuttling around after insects and larvae.
Vocalisation
Strong Tchizick in flight
<flashmp3>Motacilla alba (song).mp3</flashmp3>
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