Cape Wagtail
Cape WagtailCape WagtailCape WagtailCape Wagtail

Cape Wagtail

Motacilla capensis

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Insufficient data
overall probability at Murchison Falls National Park
4 Verified records at Murchison Falls 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 Murchison Falls National Park

African Pied Wagtail
LC

African Pied Wagtail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Motacilla aguimp

20–30% · Possible
Western Yellow Wagtail
LC

Western Yellow Wagtail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Motacilla flava

10–20% · With luck
Grey Wagtail
LC Endemic

Grey Wagtail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Motacilla cinerea

Insufficient data
Mountain Wagtail
LC

Mountain Wagtail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Motacilla clara

Insufficient data
Yellow-throated Longclaw
LC

Yellow-throated Longclaw

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Macronyx croceus

10–20% · With luck
Grassveld Pipit
LC

Grassveld Pipit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthus cinnamomeus

5–10% · With luck
Plain-backed Pipit
LC

Plain-backed Pipit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthus leucophrys

<5% · Rare
Tree Pipit
LC

Tree Pipit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthus trivialis

Insufficient data
Red-throated Pipit
LC

Red-throated Pipit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthus cervinus

Insufficient data
Long-billed Pipit
LC

Long-billed Pipit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthus similis

Insufficient data
Short-tailed Pipit
LC

Short-tailed Pipit

Bird

Anthus brachyurus

Insufficient data
Piapiac
LC

Piapiac

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ptilostomus afer

60–70% · Likely

📅 Monthly Probability

📊

Fewer than 5 records of Cape Wagtail at Murchison Falls 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
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