White Wagtail
By Charlie • April 12, 2006 • 5 commentsWhite Wagtail Motacilla alba alba
North-east Germany. 28 March 2006
The “continental” White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba is the nominate race of the alba wagtail complex and is found throughout most of western Europe. Very closely related to the British M. a. yarellii, or Pied Wagtail both forms are identical in behaviour. The differentiation of White Wagtail into two subspecies (or races) in western Europe - there are many other races breeding from Eastern Europe all the way to Japan - has perhaps arisen because of the partial isolation of M. a. yarrellii, although it now breeds in adjacent areas of the neighbouring European mainland.
Males of the two subspecies are very distinct, but females are another matter altogether - recent ID advances even suggesting that many of the Pieds recorded in the UK in winter are in fact female Whites.
Male White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba
Male Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii, UK - April 2006
All photographs copyright Charlie Moores.
I was sitting on a stonewall in South Cork in Ireland when a Pied Wagtail wandered up to me, very striking birds. Often photos don’t do seeing the birds in real life, your photos on the other hand, do.
I live Huddersfield and am well aware of Pied Wagtails as I see them regularly on my walks up ion top of the Pennines. At the beginning of the year we started getting a quite small version of the Pied Wagtail in our garden and they are still visiting (around 6 of them) I assumed they were young ones but obviously not as they are still the same size - could it be they are the Wihite Wagtail or if not any other suggestions. Unlike the Pied Wagtail these seldom actually wag their tails.
Hi Eric. I suspect what you’re seeing are Long-tailed Tits, which usually go round in groups, have a long tail, and basically a black-and-white pattern: have a look at Google images and see what you think.
Hey thanks a lot Charlie - just checked the google images with SWMBO and they are Long Tailed Tits. We always have Great Tits and Blue Tits nest every year but this is a first for the Long Tailed Tits.
You’re very welcome Eric, and thanks for letting me know.