Photo: Mike / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Mountain Wagtail
Motacilla clara
Mountain Wagtail (Motacilla clara) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Mountain Wagtail (Motacilla clara) is a member of the Motacillidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 17.9 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 clara
Quick facts
- Weight
- 17.9 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Motacillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Mountain Wagtail is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Mountain Wagtail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Mountain Wagtail (Motacilla clara) is a member of the Motacillidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 17.9 g, with a wing length of about 8.2 cm and a tail of around 9.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 3.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Mountain Wagtail?
The Mountain Wagtail is a small bird that weighs around 17.9 g.
Where does the Mountain Wagtail live?
The Mountain Wagtail is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Mountain Wagtail belong to?
The Mountain Wagtail (Motacilla clara) belongs to the Motacillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Mountain Wagtail eat?
The Mountain Wagtail is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Mountain Wagtail migrate?
The Mountain Wagtail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Mountain 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 Mountain Wagtail make?
1 real field recording of the Mountain Wagtail — including its duet — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Mountain Wagtail's range?
The Mountain Wagtail has a mapped global range of about 3.1 million 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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