Cape Wagtail
Motacilla capensis
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyMotacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
- GenusMotacilla (Wagtails)
- SpeciesMotacilla capensis (Cape Wagtail)
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 →
10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Cape Wagtail sighting in iSimangaliso Wetland Park, based on 171 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at iSimangaliso Wetland Park
African Pied Wagtail
Motacilla aguimp
Western Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flava
Mountain Wagtail
Motacilla clara
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinerea
Grassveld Pipit
Anthus cinnamomeus
Yellow-throated Longclaw
Macronyx croceus
Yellow-breasted Pipit
Anthus chloris
Rosy-throated Longclaw
Macronyx ameliae
Orange-throated Longclaw
Macronyx capensis
Plain-backed Pipit
Anthus leucophrys
Striped Pipit
Anthus lineiventris
Common Bulbul
Pycnonotus barbatus
📅 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 Cape Wagtail in iSimangaliso Wetland Park?
About 12% of wildlife watchers report a Cape Wagtail sighting in iSimangaliso Wetland Park, based on 171 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Cape Wagtail in iSimangaliso Wetland Park?
May has the highest sighting rate for Cape Wagtail in iSimangaliso Wetland Park in our monthly data.