White wagtail

About

The White wagtail is one of the most noticeable birds near human habitation. It measures 16.5–19 cm in length, a significant portion of which is its tail. The upper body is gray, with a black cap and "bib," while the forehead, cheeks, and belly are white. The bird runs quickly on the ground in small steps and constantly wags its tail — this habit makes it recognizable from a distance.

In the Carpathians, the wagtail occurs from the foothills to the polonynas: on the banks of rivers and streams, along roadsides, in villages, near Kolibas and sheepfolds, where livestock attracts insects. It flies in a wavering line and emits a ringing "tsili-tsip" in flight.

The wagtail feeds on insects and their larvae, which it gathers on the ground, in shallow waters, or catches in short flights. It builds its nest in semi-hidden places: in crevices of buildings, under bridges, in woodpiles, or under roots on the bank.

This is a migratory bird: in spring, wagtails appear in March, among the first of the insectivorous birds, and they leave in September — October.

Near mountain streams lives its relative — the Alpine wagtail. It has a yellow underside and an even longer tail, and it prefers fast-flowing water, while the White wagtail is not tied to streams.

Where in the Carpathians

Teal — roughly where the species can occur, by elevation and habitat; orange — where naturalists recorded it (GBIF, CC0/CC BY).

Range: elevation belt and the countries where it is known — our model (AWS Terrain Tiles)

Countries

Ukraine · Slovakia · Czechia · Poland · Romania · Hungary · Serbia · Austria · BG

Mountain ranges

nearly all Carpathian ranges, within its elevation belt

Altitude belts

Foothills (below 600 m) · Beech forests (600–1200 m)

When to see it

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Protection and rules

Not listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine.

FAQ