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 →
50–60% of wildlife watchers report a White Wagtail sighting in Vatnajokull National Park, based on 1,108 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Vatnajokull National Park
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinerea
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensis
Redwing
Turdus iliacus
Common Redpoll
Acanthis flammea
Common Raven
Corvus corax
Snow Bunting
Plectrophenax nivalis
Goldcrest
Regulus regulus
Eurasian Wren
Troglodytes troglodytes
Eurasian Blackbird
Turdus merula
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
Northern Wheatear
Oenanthe oenanthe
Hooded Crow
Corvus cornix
📅 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 Vatnajokull National Park?
About 50% of wildlife watchers report a White Wagtail sighting in Vatnajokull National Park, based on 1,108 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see White Wagtail in Vatnajokull National Park?
July has the highest sighting rate for White Wagtail in Vatnajokull National Park in our monthly data.