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 →
40–50% of wildlife watchers report a Cape Wagtail sighting in Namib-Naukluft National Park, based on 611 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Namib-Naukluft National Park
Nicholson's Pipit
Anthus nicholsoni
Grassveld Pipit
Anthus cinnamomeus
Buffy Pipit
Anthus vaalensis
Cape Sparrow
Passer melanurus
African Red-eyed Bulbul
Pycnonotus nigricans
Familiar Chat
Oenanthe familiaris
Dusky Sunbird
Cinnyris fuscus
Southern Masked Weaver
Ploceus velatus
Pied Crow
Corvus albus
Pale-winged Starling
Onychognathus nabouroup
Rock Martin
Ptyonoprogne fuligula
Mountain Chat
Oenanthe monticola
📅 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 Namib-Naukluft National Park?
About 49% of wildlife watchers report a Cape Wagtail sighting in Namib-Naukluft National Park, based on 611 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Cape Wagtail in Namib-Naukluft National Park?
August has the highest sighting rate for Cape Wagtail in Namib-Naukluft National Park in our monthly data.