Photo: Materialscientist (talk) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Japanese Wagtail
Motacilla grandis
Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis) is a member of the Motacillidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 30.2 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Motacillidae Wagtails, Pipits
- Genus Motacilla
- Species grandis
Where it lives
Hokkaido to Kyushu (north to southern Japan) and southern Korean Pen.
Quick facts
- Weight
- 30.2 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Motacillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Japanese Wagtail is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of rivers and riverside habitats, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Japanese Wagtail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis) is a member of the Motacillidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL Hokkaido to Kyushu (n to s Japan) and s Korean Pen.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 30.2 g, with a wing length of about 9.4 cm and a tail of around 10 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 414,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Japanese Wagtail?
The Japanese Wagtail is a small bird that weighs around 30.2 g.
Where does the Japanese Wagtail live?
The Japanese Wagtail is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL Hokkaido to Kyushu (n to s Japan) and s Korean Pen, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Japanese Wagtail belong to?
The Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis) belongs to the Motacillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Japanese Wagtail eat?
The Japanese Wagtail is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Japanese Wagtail migrate?
The Japanese Wagtail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Japanese Wagtail endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Japanese Wagtail make?
1 real field recording of the Japanese Wagtail — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Japanese Wagtail's range?
The Japanese Wagtail has a mapped global range of about 414,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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