Bird Guide

African Pied Wagtail vs Cape Wagtail

African Pied Wagtail (Motacilla aguimp)

African Pied Wagtail

Motacilla aguimp

Small27 gRiverine

A striking black and white wagtail with black upperparts contrasting with white underparts, it has a white supercilium and a white patch in the folded wing. Juvenile birds are greyer, while birds of the nominate subspecies show grey flanks. They are 20 cm (7.9 in) long.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Anne Ndung'u · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Bruno - Yolande Zanette · CC BY 4.0
Cape Wagtail (Motacilla capensis)

Cape Wagtail

Motacilla capensis

Small21 gWetland

The Cape wagtail has a dull plumage and a relatively short tail, with olive grey breast and face, with a tan supercilium and dark lores. The underparts are creamy white and may show a faint pinkish wash on the lower breast and belly. The breast band is dusky and the sides of the breast and the flanks are olive-grey. The brownish black wings have pale edges to the feathers and the tail is blackish with the two outer tail feathers being white. The juveniles are similar to the adults but browner above and yellower below. There is no colour or plumage distinction between males and females.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa · CC BY 2.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: African Pied Wagtail and Cape Wagtail.