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White-browed Wagtail
Latin Name:
Motacilla maderaspatensis
Category:
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.
IUCN:
National Status:
At IITK: