Bird Guide

Cape Wagtail vs White-browed 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
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: Cape Wagtail and White-browed Wagtail.