#0569 · 🐦 birds

White Wagtail

🇳🇱 Witte kwikstaart ·Motacilla alba

LCleast concern 🐦 Birds 📍 in the Netherlands

9 photos from iNaturalist (Creative Commons) · credits & licences

what is it?

The white wagtail ( Motacilla alba ) is a small passerine bird 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. In Ireland and Great Britain the darker sub-species the pied wagtail ( M. a. yarrellii ) predominates.

base stats

NL sightings 1,965iNaturalist, research grade
worldwide 209,144iNaturalist observations
threat LCleast concern

Bars compare against all animals on log scales: up to 300,000 Dutch and 600,000 worldwide sightings (the most-seen species), 150 t (blue whale), 30 m and 400 years (Greenland shark).

fun facts

Spotted 1,965 times in the Netherlands on iNaturalist: the #38 most seen of the birds in NL.
209,144 observations worldwide on iNaturalist.
Scientifically named in 1758 (268 years ago).