White Wagtail
White WagtailWhite WagtailWhite WagtailWhite Wagtail

White Wagtail

Motacilla alba

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
30–40% · Possible
overall probability at Cairngorms National Park
892 Verified records at Cairngorms National Park
April Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The white wagtail (Motacilla alba) is a small passerine bird in the family Motacillidae, which also includes pipits and longclaws. The species breeds in the Palearctic zone in most of Europe and Asia and parts of North Africa; it also has a toehold in western Alaska as a scarce breeder. It is resident in the mildest parts of its range, but otherwise migrates to Africa. In total, there are between 9 and 11 subspecies of M. alba; in Ireland and Great Britain, the black-backed subspecies known as the pied wagtail (M. a. yarrellii) predominates. The white wagtail is an insectivorous bird of open country, often near habitation and water. Wikipedia →

30–40% of wildlife watchers report a White Wagtail sighting in Cairngorms National Park, based on 892 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Cairngorms National Park

Grey Wagtail
LC Endemic

Grey Wagtail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Motacilla cinerea

10–20% · With luck
Meadow Pipit
LC

Meadow Pipit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthus pratensis

30–40% · Possible
Tree Pipit
LC

Tree Pipit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthus trivialis

10–20% · With luck
Rock Pipit
LC

Rock Pipit

Bird

Anthus petrosus

<5% · Rare
Chaffinch
LC

Chaffinch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fringilla coelebs

80–90% · Very likely
European Robin
LC

European Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Erithacus rubecula

70–80% · Likely
Coal Tit
LC Endemic

Coal Tit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Periparus ater

60–70% · Likely
Blue Tit
LC

Blue Tit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cyanistes caeruleus

60–70% · Likely
Great Tit
LC Endemic

Great Tit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Parus major

60–70% · Likely
Eurasian Siskin
LC

Eurasian Siskin

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Spinus spinus

50–60% · Likely
Eurasian Wren
LC Endemic

Eurasian Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Troglodytes troglodytes

50–60% · Likely
Eurasian Blackbird
LC Endemic

Eurasian Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus merula

50–60% · Likely

📅 Monthly Probability

<5
Jan
5–10
Feb
20–30
Mar
50–60
Apr
40–50
May
40–50
Jun
40–50
Jul
30–40
Aug
30–40
Sep
5–10
Oct
<5
Nov
5–10
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Thingvellir National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
70–80%
2 Fertő-Hanság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
60–70%
3 Picos de Europa National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
50–60%
4 Hortobágy National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
50–60%
5 Białowieża National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
50–60%
6 Aigüestortes National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
50–60%
7 Sierra Nevada National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
50–60%
8 Triglav National Park 🇸🇮 Slovenia
50–60%
9 Vatnajokull National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
50–60%
10 Kiskunság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
40–50%
11 Monfragüe National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
40–50%
12 Snowdonia National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
40–50%
13 Sierra de Guadarrama National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
40–50%
14 Kaziranga National Park 🇮🇳 India
40–50%
15 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
40–50%
16 Taroko National Park 🇹🇼 Taiwan
40–50%
17 Tatra National Park 🇸🇰 Slovakia
40–50%
18 Biebrza National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
40–50%
19 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
40–50%
20 Nikko National Park 🇯🇵 Japan
40–50%
21 Mercantour National Park 🇫🇷 France
30–40%
22 Hemis National Park 🇮🇳 India
30–40%
23 Chitwan National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
30–40%
24 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
30–40%
25 Cairngorms National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
30–40%
26 Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
30–40%
27 Cévennes National Park 🇫🇷 France
30–40%
28 Doñana National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
20–30%
29 Royal Bardia National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
20–30%
30 Gauja National Park 🇱🇻 Latvia
20–30%
31 Jiuzhaigou National Park 🇨🇳 China
20–30%
32 Namdapha National Park 🇮🇳 India
20–30%
33 Ranthambore National Park 🇮🇳 India
10–20%
34 Royal Manas National Park 🇧🇹 Bhutan
10–20%
35 Keoladeo National Park 🇮🇳 India
10–20%
36 Jim Corbett National Park 🇮🇳 India
10–20%
37 Langtang National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
10–20%
38 Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park 🇲🇳 Mongolia
5–10%
39 Cuc Phuong National Park 🇻🇳 Vietnam
5–10%
40 Satpura National Park 🇮🇳 India
5–10%
41 Khangchendzonga National Park 🇮🇳 India
5–10%
42 Bandhavgarh National Park 🇮🇳 India
5–10%
43 Doi Inthanon National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
5–10%
44 Sundarbans National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
45 Bandipur National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
46 Kanha National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
47 Yala National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
<5%
48 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
49 Nagarhole National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
50 Khao Yai National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
<5%
51 Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary 🇲🇾 Malaysia
<5%
52 Pacific Rim National Park Reserve 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
53 Olympic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
54 Awash National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
Insufficient data
55 Niokolo-Koba National Park 🇸🇳 Senegal
Insufficient data
56 Horton Plains National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
Insufficient data
57 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
58 Cat Tien National Park 🇻🇳 Vietnam
Insufficient data
59 Kakadu National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
60 Great Bear Rainforest 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
61 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
62 Kaeng Krachan National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
Insufficient data
63 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
64 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a White Wagtail in Cairngorms National Park?

About 35% of wildlife watchers report a White Wagtail sighting in Cairngorms National Park, based on 892 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see White Wagtail in Cairngorms National Park?

April has the highest sighting rate for White Wagtail in Cairngorms National Park in our monthly data.

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