White Wagtail

White Wagtail

Motacilla alba

Silhouette: Martin Bulla, based on Ren Hathway's illustration · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
at Doñana National Park
1,265 Verified sightings at Doñana National Park From 2019 to 2026
42,713 Verified sightings across all 67 parks From 2019 to 2026
December Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the White Wagtail

The white wagtail (Motacilla alba) is a small passerine bird in the family Motacillidae, which also includes pipits and longclaws. The species breeds in the Palearctic zone in most of Europe and Asia and parts of North Africa; it also has a toehold in western Alaska as a scarce breeder. It is resident in the mildest parts of its range, but otherwise migrates to Africa. In total, there are between 9 and 11 subspecies of M. alba; in Ireland and Great Britain, the black-backed subspecies known as the pied wagtail (M. a. yarrellii) predominates.

The white wagtail is an insectivorous bird of open country, often near habitation and water. It prefers bare areas for feeding, where it can see and pursue its prey. In urban areas, it has adapted to foraging on paved areas such as car parks. It nests in crevices in stone walls and similar natural and human-made structures.

It is the national bird of Latvia and has featured on the stamps of several countries. It is listed as being 'of least concern' by IUCN. The white wagtail was one of the many species originally described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae, and it still bears its... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Thingvellir National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
~70%
2 Fertő-Hanság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~70%
3 Vanoise National Park 🇫🇷 France
~60%
4 Picos de Europa National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~60%
5 Hortobágy National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~50%
6 Białowieża National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
~50%
7 Aigüestortes National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~50%
8 Sierra Nevada National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~50%
9 Triglav National Park 🇸🇮 Slovenia
~50%
10 Hohe Tauern National Park 🇦🇹 Austria
~50%
11 Vatnajokull National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
~50%
12 Kiskunság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~50%
13 Monfragüe National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~50%
14 Snowdonia National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~50%
15 Sierra de Guadarrama National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~50%
16 Kaziranga National Park 🇮🇳 India
~50%
17 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
~50%
18 Ecrins National Park 🇫🇷 France
~40%
19 Taroko National Park 🇹🇼 Taiwan
~40%
20 Tatra National Park 🇸🇰 Slovakia
~40%
21 Biebrza National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
~40%
22 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
~40%
23 Nikko National Park 🇯🇵 Japan
~40%
24 Plitvice Lakes National Park 🇭🇷 Croatia
~40%
25 Mercantour National Park 🇫🇷 France
~40%
26 Chitwan National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
~40%
27 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
~40%
28 Cairngorms National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~30%
29 Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~30%
30 Cévennes National Park 🇫🇷 France
~30%
31 Doñana National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~30%
32 Royal Bardia National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
~30%
33 Gauja National Park 🇱🇻 Latvia
~30%
34 Jiuzhaigou National Park 🇨🇳 China
~30%
35 Namdapha National Park 🇮🇳 India
~20%
36 Ranthambore National Park 🇮🇳 India
~20%
37 Royal Manas National Park 🇧🇹 Bhutan
~20%
38 Keoladeo National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
39 Jim Corbett National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
40 Langtang National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
~10%
41 Manas National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
42 Camargue 🇫🇷 France
~10%
43 Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park 🇲🇳 Mongolia
~10%
44 Cuc Phuong National Park 🇻🇳 Vietnam
~10%
45 Satpura National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
46 Khangchendzonga National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
47 Gir National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
48 Bandhavgarh National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
49 Doi Inthanon National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
<5%
50 Sundarbans National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
51 Bandipur National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
52 Kanha National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
53 Yala National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
<5%
54 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
55 Nagarhole National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
56 Khao Yai National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
<5%
57 Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary 🇲🇾 Malaysia
<5%
58 Awash National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
Insufficient data
59 Niokolo-Koba National Park 🇸🇳 Senegal
Insufficient data
60 Horton Plains National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
Insufficient data
61 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
62 Cat Tien National Park 🇻🇳 Vietnam
Insufficient data
63 Kakadu National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
64 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
65 Kaeng Krachan National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
Insufficient data
66 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
67 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a White Wagtail in Doñana National Park?

About 30% of wildlife watchers report a White Wagtail sighting in Doñana National Park, based on 1,265 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see White Wagtail in Doñana National Park?

December has the highest sighting rate for White Wagtail in Doñana National Park in our monthly data.

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