White Wagtail
Motacilla alba
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyMotacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
- GenusMotacilla (Wagtails)
- SpeciesMotacilla alba (White Wagtail)
The white wagtail (Motacilla alba) is a small passerine bird in the family Motacillidae, which also includes pipits and longclaws. The species breeds in the Palearctic zone in most of Europe and Asia and parts of North Africa; it also has a toehold in western Alaska as a scarce breeder. It is resident in the mildest parts of its range, but otherwise migrates to Africa. In total, there are between 9 and 11 subspecies of M. alba; in Ireland and Great Britain, the black-backed subspecies known as the pied wagtail (M. a. yarrellii) predominates. The white wagtail is an insectivorous bird of open country, often near habitation and water. Wikipedia →
20–30% of wildlife watchers report a White Wagtail sighting in Doñana National Park, based on 866 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Doñana National Park
Western Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flava
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinerea
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensis
Water Pipit
Anthus spinoletta
Tawny Pipit
Anthus campestris
Tree Pipit
Anthus trivialis
Olive-backed Pipit
Anthus hodgsoni
Richard's Pipit
Anthus richardi
Spotless Starling
Sturnus unicolor
European Stonechat
Saxicola rubicola
Cetti's Warbler
Cettia cetti
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a White Wagtail in Doñana National Park?
About 28% of wildlife watchers report a White Wagtail sighting in Doñana National Park, based on 866 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see White Wagtail in Doñana National Park?
December has the highest sighting rate for White Wagtail in Doñana National Park in our monthly data.