Cape Wagtail
Cape WagtailCape WagtailCape WagtailCape Wagtail

Cape Wagtail

Motacilla capensis

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Insufficient data
overall probability at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
1 Verified records at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

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. Like other wagtails they are passerine birds of the family Motacillidae, which also includes the pipits and longclaws. Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Grey Wagtail
LC Endemic

Grey Wagtail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Motacilla cinerea

Insufficient data
African Pied Wagtail
LC

African Pied Wagtail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Motacilla aguimp

Insufficient data
Grassveld Pipit
LC

Grassveld Pipit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthus cinnamomeus

<5% · Rare
Buffy Pipit
LC

Buffy Pipit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthus vaalensis

<5% · Rare
Orange-throated Longclaw
LC

Orange-throated Longclaw

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Macronyx capensis

Insufficient data
Fork-tailed Drongo
LC

Fork-tailed Drongo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dicrurus adsimilis

80–90% · Very likely
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
LC

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Plocepasser mahali

70–80% · Very likely
Social Weaver
LC

Social Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Philetairus socius

60–70% · Likely
Red-shouldered Glossy-starling
LC

Red-shouldered Glossy-starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis nitens

60–70% · Likely
Crimson-breasted Gonolek
LC

Crimson-breasted Gonolek

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Laniarius atrococcineus

50–60% · Likely
Mariqua Flycatcher
LC

Mariqua Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bradornis mariquensis

50–60% · Likely
Scaly Weaver
LC

Scaly Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sporopipes squamifrons

50–60% · Likely

📅 Monthly Probability

📊

Fewer than 5 records of Cape Wagtail at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park — not enough to chart months honestly.

☀️ 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 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
50–60%
2 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
50–60%
3 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
40–50%
4 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
30–40%
5 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
30–40%
6 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
30–40%
7 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
20–30%
8 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
20–30%
9 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
10–20%
10 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
10–20%
11 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
12 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
5–10%
13 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
5–10%
14 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
15 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
16 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
<5%
17 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
18 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
19 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
20 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
21 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
<5%
22 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
23 Waterberg Plateau Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
Insufficient data
24 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
25 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
26 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
27 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
28 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
29 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
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