Bird Guide

African Pied Wagtail vs White-browed 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

Sonogram of the African Pied Wagtail
Recorded by Anne Ndung'u · Song · Kilifi County, Kenya · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Bruno - Yolande Zanette · CC BY 4.0
White-browed Wagtail (Motacilla maderaspatensis)

White-browed Wagtail

Motacilla maderaspatensis

Small31 gRiverine

The white-browed wagtail is the largest species of wagtail at 21 cm (8.3 in) length. It is a slender bird, with the characteristic long, constantly wagging tail of its genus. It has black upperparts, head and breast, with a white supercilium and large white wingbar. Unlike white wagtails it never has white on the forehead. The rest of the underparts are white. The female has the black less intense than in the male. Juveniles are like the females brown-grey where the adult is black.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Mitul and Vijul Singh · CC BY 4.0

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