White Wagtail Identification

Adult (ocularis)

A small, slender songbird with a long tail and gray, black, and white plumage. Appearance varies across the nine subspecies groups, which can co-occur on the wintering grounds. Breeding male in the “ocularis” subspecies group, which breeds across northern Asia to western Alaska, has a white face with a black line running through the eye, a black chin and throat, gray upperparts, and white wingbars that can form a large white panel.

Adult (White-faced)

Breeding male in all subspecies groups has a mostly black tail with white outer tail feathers. Breeding male in the “White-faced” subspecies group, which breeds across continental Europe, has a white face bordered by a black crown and throat, gray upperparts, and two white wingbars.

Nonbreeding male (White-faced)

A slender songbird with a short, pointed bill and a long tail. Always some combination of gray, black, and white, though plumage details vary across subspecies, season, age, and sex.

Juvenile (White-faced)

Juvenile is dusky brownish gray, lacking adult’s crisp black-and-white markings.

Adult (British)

Breeding male in the “British” group, which breeds in Ireland and the United Kingdom, has a white face bordered by a black crown and throat, black upperparts, and two prominent white wingbars.

Breeding female (White-faced)

A small, active songbird that calls and wags tail frequently. Feeds mainly on insects and spiders. Breeding female in the “White-faced” subspecies group has a grayer crown than breeding male.

Adult (Hodgson's)

Breeding male in the “Hodgson’s” group, which breeds in the Himalayas and southern China, has a white mask surrounded by a black crown and throat, black upperparts, and a large white wing panel.

Adult (Chinese)

Breeding male in the “Chinese” subspecies group, which breeds in East Asia, has a mostly white head, a white throat, black upperparts, and a large white wing panel.

Nonbreeding adult (Black-backed)

Typically forages on the ground, often near water, wagging long tail almost nonstop. The “Black-backed” subspecies group is a vagrant to Pacific Coast states and provinces.

Adult (Black-backed)

Breeding male in the “Black-backed” subspecies group, which breeds in northeastern Asia and Japan, has a white face with a black line running through the eye, a black breast and lower throat, a white chin, black upperparts, and a large white wing panel.

Adult (Transbaikalian)

Breeding male in the “Transbaikalian” subspecies group, which breeds in southern Siberia, Mongolia, and northeastern China, has a white face and throat, black breast, gray upperparts, and a large white wing panel. All White Wagtails feed primarily on insects and spiders.

Juvenile (White-faced)

Juvenile is drabber than adult, showing faint markings on the head and breast.

Adult (Masked)

Breeding male in the “Masked” subspecies group, which breeds in Central Asia, has a limited white facial mask surrounded by a black crown, nape, and throat; gray upperparts; and a large white wing panel.

Adult (Moroccan)

Breeding male in the “Moroccan” subspecies group, found only in northwestern Morocco, has a mostly black face, gray upperparts, and two white wingbars.

Adult (White-faced)

Note long tail, frequently wagged, with black center and white outer feathers.

Adult (Chinese)

Frequently occurs in parks, gardens, and other settings around people.

See more images of this species in Macaulay Library

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Identification

Distinctive but variable: all plumages are some bold combination of black, white, and gray. Shows considerable variation in plumage across the world, but never has a clear, thin and contrasting eye-brow like White-browed or Japanese Wagtail. Occurs in varied open habitats, from wild grassy areas and wetlands to paved car parks and grassy lawns. Usually seen as singles, pairs, or small groups walking and running around, pumping the long, white-sided tail up and down. Identified easily in flight by its loud, thick and distinctive “tsee-tsee’ call.

Relative Size

Larger than a Great Tit and smaller than a Eurasian Blackbird.

Size chart showing sparrow to goose sized

Measurements

Both Sexes
- Length: 6.5-7.1 in (16.5-18 cm)
- Weight: 0.6-0.9 oz (17.6-24.6 g)

Regional Differences

Ornithologists recognize nine White Wagtail subspecies groups. Broadly speaking, the “White-faced,” “British,” and “Moroccan” groups breed in Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East; the “ocularis,” “Transbaikalian,” “Black-backed,” and “Chinese” groups breed in northeast or East Asia; and the “Masked” and “Hodgson’s” groups breed in Central Asia, the Himalayas, or central China.

These groups differ in upperpart color and head, wing, and tail patterns. Group identification of breeding males and most breeding females is straightforward, but assigning nonbreeding females and immature birds to subspecies group can be difficult (or in some cases not possible).