White Wagtail
Motacilla alba
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyMotacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
- GenusMotacilla (Wagtails)
- SpeciesMotacilla alba (White Wagtail)
The white wagtail (Motacilla alba) is a small passerine bird in the family Motacillidae, which also includes pipits and longclaws. The species breeds in the Palearctic zone in most of Europe and Asia and parts of North Africa; it also has a toehold in western Alaska as a scarce breeder. It is resident in the mildest parts of its range, but otherwise migrates to Africa. In total, there are between 9 and 11 subspecies of M. alba; in Ireland and Great Britain, the black-backed subspecies known as the pied wagtail (M. a. yarrellii) predominates. The white wagtail is an insectivorous bird of open country, often near habitation and water. Wikipedia →
70–80% of wildlife watchers report a White Wagtail sighting in Thingvellir National Park, based on 170 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Thingvellir National Park
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensis
Redwing
Turdus iliacus
Common Raven
Corvus corax
Eurasian Wren
Troglodytes troglodytes
Common Redpoll
Acanthis flammea
Goldcrest
Regulus regulus
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
Eurasian Blackbird
Turdus merula
Northern Wheatear
Oenanthe oenanthe
Snow Bunting
Plectrophenax nivalis
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostra
European Robin
Erithacus rubecula
📅 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 White Wagtail in Thingvellir National Park?
About 71% of wildlife watchers report a White Wagtail sighting in Thingvellir National Park, based on 170 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see White Wagtail in Thingvellir National Park?
June has the highest sighting rate for White Wagtail in Thingvellir National Park in our monthly data.