Bird Guide

African Pied Wagtail vs Citrine 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
Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola)

Citrine Wagtail

Motacilla citreola

Small19 gWetland

It is a slender, 15.5–17 cm long bird, with the long, constantly wagging tail characteristic of the genus Motacilla. The adult male in breeding plumage is basically grey or black above, with white on the remiges, and bright yellow below and on the entire head except for the black nape. In winter plumage, its yellow underparts may be diluted by white, and the head is brownish with a yellowish supercilium. Females look generally like washed-out versions of males in winter plumage.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Kevin Guille · CC0
Photo: (c) egorbirder, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by

Where you might meet both

Learn this pair in BeakBrain

Photo and call practice, free in any browser.

Play BeakBrain

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