Mountain Wagtail

Motacilla clara

Mountain streams. Very long tail; below white with a narrow black breast-band.

Not Endemic

Description

Fairly common, localised resident. Told by very long tail and mostly grey-and-white coloration; much paler than other wagtails. Calls ‘chirrup’ on taking flight; also sings ‘ti-tuu-ui-tui-tui’. Pairs or small groups occur along fast-running forest rivers and streams in the eastern regions. Hops and flits from boulder to boulder with much tail-wagging.

Quick Facts

Bird Family

Small, insectivorous terrestrial birds, water-associated in wagtails. The sexes are alike or closely similar, all with white or buff outer tail-feathers. Pipits are among the most difficult birds to identify in the field. Reliable identification relies on careful observation of the coloration of bare parts (influenced by blood circulation), as well as proportions, calls, tail-wagging, behaviour and subtle plumage differences. Nevertheless, it is often impossible to confidently identify pipits to species level. Most pipits utter a ‘chissik' or ‘chip' call on take-off, their flight low and dipping. Longclaws are large, colourful pipits, while wagtails are mostly well known because of their confiding and friendly behaviour. Wagtails (and many pipits) have the habit of continually bobbing their tails up and down.