Japanese Wagtail
Motacilla grandis
Silhouette: Martin Bulla, based on Ren Hathway's illustration · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyMotacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
- GenusMotacilla (Wagtails)
- SpeciesMotacilla grandis (Japanese Wagtail)
About the Japanese Wagtail
The Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis) is a species of bird in the pipit and wagtail family Motacillidae. It is native to Japan and Korea. The Japanese wagtail is about 20 cm long. The sexes look similar; they have white underparts and black upperparts, throats, and backs. Their supercilia are also white. They have black beaks and dark grey legs and feet. The plumage of a juvenile is greyer than that of an adult.
The bird's Latin species name, grandis, means large. The Japanese wagtail is classed as a species of least concern by the IUCN. It has a stable population. The Japanese wagtail eats insects. Large groups of Japanese wagtails roost together in trees.
Nests are built in cavities near water. The parents both look after the eggs and chicks. Four to six eggs are laid in each clutch. It is native to Japan and Korea. Vagrant birds have been recorded in Taiwan, eastern China and far-eastern Russia. It lives in inland wetlands, on arable land and in urban areas. Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Japanese Wagtail in Nikko National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Nikko National Park
White Wagtail
Motacilla alba
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinerea
Olive-backed Pipit
Anthus hodgsoni
Cinereous Tit
Parus cinereus
Large-billed Crow
Corvus macrorhynchos
Japanese Bush Warbler
Horornis diphone
Coal Tit
Periparus ater
Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatus
Willow Tit
Poecile montanus
Brown-eared Bulbul
Hypsipetes amaurotis
Eurasian Jay
Garrulus glandarius
Eurasian Nuthatch
Sitta europaea
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nikko National Park | 🇯🇵 Japan |
More parks will be added in future updates.
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Japanese Wagtail in Nikko National Park?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Japanese Wagtail sighting in Nikko National Park, based on 115 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Japanese Wagtail in Nikko National Park?
November has the highest sighting rate for Japanese Wagtail in Nikko National Park in our monthly data.