White Wagtail Identification
What I look like
The White Wagtail has a black and white head.
Its back is gray.
The belly is white with a black bib at the chest level.
It has a long black and white tail.
In juveniles, the colors are less distinct.
It is slightly larger than a sparrow.
My songs, my calls
The song of the White Wagtail is grating and monotonous.
It also makes sharp "tsi-lip" calls.
How I behave
It is often found near wetlands and watercourses searching for food.
It walks in a jerky manner.
It constantly wags its long tail, earning it the nickname "wagtail".
Its flight is undulating, somewhat like a dragonfly.
How I reproduce
The breeding season of the White Wagtail extends from April to August.
It has 2 to 3 broods per year of 5 to 6 light gray eggs speckled with light brown.
Its nest is a cup of twigs, grass, and leaves in cavities.
In gardens, it nests in wall crevices, old swallow nests, wood piles.
It can also use open-fronted nest boxes.
What I eat
It feeds on small flies and other flying insects found near watercourses.
Where to find me
It lives near watercourses and wetlands.
It is also found in fields.
And even in cities.
The White Wagtail is sedentary or a short-distance migrant.
It spends the winter around the Mediterranean and returns as early as March.