White Wagtail Similar Species Comparison

Main SpeciesWhite Wagtail

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Similar SpeciesJapanese Wagtail

Adult

The breeding range of Japanese Wagtail overlaps with the breeding ranges of “Black-backed” and “Chinese” White Wagtail, and at times Japanese Wagtail has been treated as part of White Wagtail. Adult Japanese Wagtail is easily told from breeding males of these two White Wagtail subspecies groups by its mostly black face, with white limited to the forecrown and a short line behind the eye. Breeding male “Chinese” White Wagtail has a white face and limited black crown, and “Black-backed” White Wagtail has a black eyeline running through an otherwise white face.

Similar SpeciesWhite-browed Wagtail

Adult

Adult White-browed Wagtail, found only on the Indian subcontinent, is easily distinguished from the six nonbreeding White Wagtail subspecies groups that occur in South Asia by its prominent white eyebrow contrasting with an otherwise all-black head.

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