White-browed Wagtail

Latin Name: 
Motacilla maderaspatensis
Size: 
21cm
Description: 

Black above; prominent white supercilium and large wing-band; black throat and breast; white below. Female is usually browner where male is black. The black-backed races of White Wagtail M. alba have conspicuous white forehead. Mostly in pairs, though small parties may feed together in winter; a bird of flowing waters, being especially fond of rockstrewn rivers, though it may be seen on ponds and tanks; feeds at edge of water, wagging tail frequently; also rides on the ferry-boats plying rivers.

Habitat: 
rocky streams, rivers, ponds, tanks; sometimes may enter wet cultivation.
Food: 
insects
Distribution: 
most of India south of Himalayan foothills to about 1,200m; only resident wagtail in the Indian plains, breeding up to 2,000m in peninsula mountains.
Call: 
Call Description: 
sharp tzizit or cheezit… call; pleasant whistling song of breeding male.
National Status: