Photo: Wich'yanan L / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Mekong Wagtail
Motacilla samveasnae
Mekong Wagtail (Motacilla samveasnae) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Mekong Wagtail (Motacilla samveasnae) is a member of the Motacillidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 22.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Motacillidae Wagtails, Pipits
- Genus Motacilla
- Species samveasnae
Where it lives
Northeastern Cambodia, southern Laos and southeastern Thailand
Quick facts
- Weight
- 22.7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Motacillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Mekong 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 uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Mekong Wagtail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Mekong Wagtail (Motacilla samveasnae) belongs to the Motacillidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR ne Cambodia, s Laos and se Thailand.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 22.7 g, with a wing length of about 7.9 cm and a tail of around 7.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 38,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Mekong Wagtail?
The Mekong Wagtail is a small bird that weighs around 22.7 g.
Where does the Mekong Wagtail live?
The Mekong Wagtail is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR ne Cambodia, s Laos and se Thailand, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Mekong Wagtail belong to?
The Mekong Wagtail (Motacilla samveasnae) belongs to the Motacillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Mekong Wagtail eat?
The Mekong Wagtail is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Mekong Wagtail migrate?
The Mekong Wagtail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Mekong Wagtail endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
How large is the Mekong Wagtail's range?
The Mekong Wagtail has a mapped global range of about 38,000 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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