Cape Wagtail
Cape WagtailCape WagtailCape WagtailCape Wagtail

Cape Wagtail

Motacilla capensis

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Insufficient data
overall probability at Gonarezhou National Park
1 Verified records at Gonarezhou National Park
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The Cape wagtail (Motacilla capensis), also known as Wells's wagtail, is a small insectivorous bird which is widespread in southern Africa. It frequents water's edge, lawns and gardens. It is a mostly resident, territorial species, but has been known to undertake limited altitudinal migration or form flocks outside of the breeding season. Like other wagtails they are passerine birds of the family Motacillidae, which also includes the pipits and longclaws. Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Gonarezhou National Park

African Pied Wagtail
LC

African Pied Wagtail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Motacilla aguimp

50–60% · Likely
Grassveld Pipit
LC

Grassveld Pipit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthus cinnamomeus

10–20% · With luck
Yellow-throated Longclaw
LC

Yellow-throated Longclaw

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Macronyx croceus

Insufficient data
Buffy Pipit
LC

Buffy Pipit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthus vaalensis

Insufficient data
Meves's Glossy-starling
LC

Meves's Glossy-starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis mevesii

70–80% · Very likely
Fork-tailed Drongo
LC

Fork-tailed Drongo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dicrurus adsimilis

70–80% · Very likely
Blue-breasted Cordonbleu
LC

Blue-breasted Cordonbleu

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Uraeginthus angolensis

60–70% · Likely
Tropical Boubou

Tropical Boubou

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Laniarius major

60–70% · Likely
Southern Gray-headed Sparrow
LC

Southern Gray-headed Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Passer diffusus

60–70% · Likely
Black-backed Puffback
LC

Black-backed Puffback

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dryoscopus cubla

60–70% · Likely
Common Bulbul
LC

Common Bulbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pycnonotus barbatus

50–60% · Likely
Arrow-marked Babbler
LC

Arrow-marked Babbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdoides jardineii

50–60% · Likely

📅 Monthly Probability

📊

Fewer than 5 records of Cape Wagtail at Gonarezhou National Park — not enough to chart months honestly.

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

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

# Park Country Probability
1 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
50–60%
2 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
50–60%
3 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
40–50%
4 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
30–40%
5 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
30–40%
6 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
30–40%
7 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
20–30%
8 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
20–30%
9 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
10–20%
10 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
10–20%
11 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
12 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
5–10%
13 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
5–10%
14 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
15 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
16 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
<5%
17 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
18 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
19 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
20 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
21 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
<5%
22 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
23 Waterberg Plateau Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
Insufficient data
24 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
25 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
26 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
27 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
28 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
29 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
← Back to Gonarezhou National Park