Cape Wagtail

Cape Wagtail

Motacilla capensis

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
30–40% · Possible
overall probability at Table Mountain National Park
1,717 Verified records at Table Mountain National Park
July Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ 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 →

30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Cape Wagtail sighting in Table Mountain National Park, based on 1,717 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

📅 Monthly Probability

30–40
Jan
30–40
Feb
30–40
Mar
30–40
Apr
30–40
May
40–50
Jun
40–50
Jul
20–30
Aug
30–40
Sep
20–30
Oct
20–30
Nov
30–40
Dec

☀️ 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

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Cape Wagtail in Table Mountain National Park?

About 34% of wildlife watchers report a Cape Wagtail sighting in Table Mountain National Park, based on 1,717 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Cape Wagtail in Table Mountain National Park?

July has the highest sighting rate for Cape Wagtail in Table Mountain National Park in our monthly data.

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