White wagtail / Bachstelze (Motacilla alba)

Bachstelze von Fanel-Platform aus. 2024-05-22 18:04:14 Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge
Classification: Genus Motacilla; Family Motacillidae
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General: The white wagtail (Motacilla alba) is a small passerine bird in the family Motacillidae, which also includes pipits and longclaws. The species breeds in much of Europe and the Asian Palearctic and parts of North Africa. It has a toehold in Alaska as a scarce breeder. It is resident in the mildest parts of its range, but otherwise migrates to Africa. In Ireland and Great Britain, the darker subspecies, the pied wagtail or water wagtail^[2] (M. a. yarrellii) predominates. In total, there are between 9 and 11 subspecies. [more]
Song: Song either slow and primitive, consisting of sharp falling notes given by perched birds, or longer fast and energic bursts in excited song-flight. [Link]
Calls: Contact calls short and sharp. Usually with disyllabic, "bouncing" quality, and with each syllable only accented, not clearly separated from the other (see Grey Wagtail). [Link]
Physical details: length=18 cm, wingspan=25-30 cm, weight=17-25 g
Habitats: Settlement

Interesting behavior: Wags its tail when calling.
Song: General: Usually just calls. This song is just a few chirpy slurs, sometimes rising-rising-falling.
Song: Zirpt wie ein Sperling aber weniger Noten. Lh lh lh [Link]
Song attributes: Mnemnoic: Plaetschert wie ein Bach Melody: stereotype melodic, slow, Frequency: 2-7 KHz
XC694995 - White Wagtail - Motacilla alba - song recorded in Spain. Spain
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Call: bird-song.ch: zweisilbig «zilipp» oder einsilbig «zipp»

XC644775 - White Wagtail - Motacilla alba alba - call, recorded in Estonia.
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Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 3-7 KHz,
First documented observation: 2015-06-05 in Iceland. Most recent observation: 2025-01-02 in Triboltingen.