White-browed Wagtail
A species of Wagtails Scientific name : Motacilla maderaspatensis Genus : Wagtails
White-browed Wagtail, A species of Wagtails
Botanical name: Motacilla maderaspatensis
Genus: Wagtails
Content
Description People often ask General Info
Description
The white-browed wagtail is the largest species of wagtail at 21 cm (8.3 in) length. It is a slender bird, with the characteristic long, constantly wagging tail of its genus. It has black upperparts, head and breast, with a white supercilium and large white wingbar. Unlike white wagtails it never has white on the forehead. The rest of the underparts are white. The female has the black less intense than in the male. Juveniles are like the females brown-grey where the adult is black. 
Size
24 cm
Colors
Black
Gray
White
Nest Placement
Ground
Feeding Habits
White-browed Wagtail primarily consumes insects such as orthopterans, caterpillars, spiders, beetles, and bugs. Adaptive to urban settings, they forage on rooftops for annelids and insects from water tank overflows, exhibiting flexibility in both diet and foraging locations.
Habitat
White-browed Wagtail predominantly resides in open freshwater wetlands, like rivers and lakes, favoring streams that are smooth-flowing with rocky beds. These birds adapt to diverse environments, extending to agricultural areas such as irrigation tanks and paddy fields, as well as man-made habitats within urban centers. They are typically found at lower elevations in the north but can inhabit up to 2200m in southern hilly regions of the Indian subcontinent.
Dite type
Insectivorous
People often ask
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small groups near open water. They call often especially in the mornings and are active like most other wagtails. They will perch on the ground as well as on wires or on buildings. The song is long and loud with many different notes. The usual call is a wheezy "wheech". They can fly fairly rapidly for long distances and they fly with a bounding (dipping and rising) flight pattern and have been recorded to travel at the speed of about 40 km/h. Endoparasitic filarial parasites of the species Splendidofilaria singhi have been recorded in individuals of the species.
Distribution Area
The white-browed wagtail is a resident breeder in India and is endemic to the Indian subcontinent. It is found south of the Himalayas, east of the Indus system and to the west of Bangladesh. It is rare in the higher altitude regions but has been seen in Ladakh on the edge of the Tibetan plateau. In most of India it is found below 1000 m but in southern India it goes up into the hills up to 2200 m. It is very rare in the Indus valley area. It is absent from the Sind region of Pakistan. It is found in open freshwater wetland habitats. It is one of the few Motacilla wagtails that has adapted well to urban habitats and is often found perched on overhead water storages in residential buildings. It is a rare winter visitor to Sri Lanka and have possibly extended their range in recent times.
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Wagtails Genus
Wagtails Species
White-browed Wagtail 
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