Bird Guide

Cape Wagtail vs Grey Wagtail

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
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)

Grey Wagtail

Motacilla cinerea

Small17 gRiverine

This slim wagtail has a narrow white supercilium and a broken eye ring. The upperparts are grey and the yellow vent contrasting with whitish underparts makes it distinctive. The breeding male has a black throat that is edged by whitish moustachial stripes. They forage singly or in pairs on meadows or on shallow water marshes. They also use rocks in water and will often perch on trees. They have a clear sharp call note and the song consists of trills.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Grégoire Chauvot · CC0
Photo: Andrew Cunnington · CC0

Where you might meet both

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