Cape Wagtail (Motacilla capensis)
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Cape Wagtail

Motacilla capensis Linnaeus, 1766

21 gWeight

The Cape wagtail (Motacilla capensis), also known as Wells's wagtail, is a small insectivorous bird which is widespread in southern Africa.

Busiest months: September–November · Most records: South Africa, Namibia, Uganda

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Cape Wagtail has been recorded at 257 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 14 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Strandfontein WTPSouth Africa2,250 records
  2. Stony Point – Penguin ColonySouth Africa1,088 records
  3. Boulders BeachSouth Africa1,017 records
More places
  1. Marievale Bird SanctuarySouth Africa919 records
  2. West Coast NPSouth Africa781 records
  3. West Coast NP – Geelbek hides vicinitySouth Africa716 records
  4. Rietvlei NRSouth Africa691 records
  5. Avis DamNamibia642 records
  6. Harold Porter Botanical GardensSouth Africa614 records
  7. Rondevlei NRSouth Africa613 records

Countries and regions with the most records

South AfricaNamibiaUgandaBotswanaLesothoKenyaMozambiqueEswatini

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The Cape wagtail (Motacilla capensis), also known as Wells's wagtail, is a small insectivorous bird which is widespread in southern Africa. It frequents water's edge, lawns and gardens. It is a mostly resident, territorial species, but has been known to undertake limited altitudinal migration or form flocks outside of the breeding season.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Cape Wagtail?

The Cape Wagtail weighs around 21 g.

Where does the Cape Wagtail live?

Its breeding range: Africa: south-central, southern. It is most often recorded in South Africa, Namibia and Uganda.

When is the best time to see the Cape Wagtail?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in September, October and November (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Cape Wagtail endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Cape Wagtail as Least Concern.

What does the Cape Wagtail eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Cape Wagtail in?

It belongs to the family Wagtails, Pipits (Motacillidae), order Passerines (Passeriformes).

At a glance

Weight
21 g
Habitat
Wetland
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Active on the ground
Migration
Partial migrant
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
82 mm
Tail
86 mm
Bill
17 mm
Tarsus
23 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Africa: south-central, southern

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Family
Wagtails, Pipits Motacillidae
Genus
Motacilla

Other birds in the genus Motacilla

Western Yellow WagtailWestern Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaEastern Yellow WagtailEastern Yellow WagtailMotacilla tschutschensisCitrine WagtailCitrine WagtailMotacilla citreolaMadagascar WagtailMadagascar WagtailMotacilla flaviventrisSao Tome ShorttailSao Tome ShorttailMotacilla bocagiiGrey WagtailGrey WagtailMotacilla cinereaMountain WagtailMountain WagtailMotacilla claraWhite WagtailWhite WagtailMotacilla albaAfrican Pied WagtailAfrican Pied WagtailMotacilla aguimpMekong WagtailMekong WagtailMotacilla samveasnaeJapanese WagtailJapanese WagtailMotacilla grandisWhite-browed WagtailWhite-browed WagtailMotacilla maderaspatensis
Cape Wagtail

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Ray Turnbull. ↗

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