Photos and Videos for White Wagtail, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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.