White Wagtail
A species of Wagtails Scientific name : Motacilla alba Genus : Wagtails
White Wagtail, A species of Wagtails
Botanical name: Motacilla alba
Genus: Wagtails
Content
Description People often ask General Info
Photo By xulescu_g , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
The white Wagtail is the national bird of Latvia and is featured in traditional folk songs and placed on some postage stamps. These birds can be found in most habitat types besides deserts. As their name suggests, they exhibit a characteristic tail-wagging behavior as they search along the ground and nearby waterways for insects to eat.
Size
18 cm
Life Expectancy
10 years
Feeding Habits
White Wagtail forages on the ground and along waterways, primarily consuming insects like beetles, dragonflies, and various larvae, also incorporating small fish fry. They possess a diverse diet and show adaptability in their feeding strategies.
Habitat
White Wagtail thrives in a diverse array of non-forested habitats across Eurasia and parts of North America. Commonly found near wetlands such as riverbanks, lakeshores, and coastal areas, it also adapts well to human-altered environments, including farms, gardens, parks, and urban areas with short grasslands. While absent in dense forests and true deserts, white Wagtail can also be seen in various open landscapes during migration and winter, like reservoir edges, irrigated fields, and even desert wells, showcasing its versatility across both natural and artificial habitats.
Nest Behavior
White Wagtail's nest is often built by both sexes, with the female possibly doing more of the work. The nesting cycle includes courtship displays, followed by nest building, egg laying, and parental care which involves feeding and protecting the young.
Nest Characteristics
White Wagtail typically constructs a nest in natural crevices among rocks or cliffs; many in Alaska use artificial sites such as abandoned gold dredges, buildings, empty oil drums, or under debris. The nest is an open cup of twigs, grass, rootlets, moss, lined with hair and feathers.
Dite type
Insectivorous
People often ask
General Info
Sounds
Call
Recording location: Belgium
Call
Recording location: Japan
Song
Recording location: United States
Call
Recording location: Belgium
Song
Recording location: Netherlands
Behavior
The most conspicuous habit of this species is a near-constant tail wagging, a trait that has given the species, and indeed the genus, its common name. In spite of the ubiquity of this behaviour, the reasons for it are poorly understood. It has been suggested that it may flush prey, or signal submissiveness to other wagtails. A study in 2004 has suggested instead that it is a signal of vigilance to potential predators. 
Distribution Area
This species breeds throughout Eurasia up to latitudes 75°N, only being absent in the Arctic from areas where the July isotherm is less than 4 ℃. It also breeds in the mountains of Morocco and western Alaska. Northern European breeders winter around the Mediterranean and in tropical and subtropical Africa, and Asiatic birds move to the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia. Birds from the North American population also winter in tropical Asia.
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Wagtails Genus
Wagtails Species
White Wagtail 
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