White Wagtail

16-20 cm. Several races of this widespread Eurasian wagtail reach Aust. as vagrants. Only males in breeding plumage are identifiable as to races. Race ocularis: forehead/face/underparts white; crown/nape/line from bill through eye, throat and 'bib', black; back/scapulars grey; rump darker; large white patch on shoulder; flight-feathers/tail black with white edges; legs black. Race leucopsis: no black eyeline; throat white above black bib; back black. Race baicalensis: black eyeline faint or absent; back grey; much less white in wing; wing coverts/flight-feathers black with strong white margins in netted pattern. Race lugens (Black-backed Wagtail): Very like race leucopsis, but has white chin, black scapulars, black line from bill through eye to nape and black throat joining large black bib; underparts and flanks white. In flight, wing largely white, with black shoulders and outer wingtips, contrasting black back and white-edged black tail.

upperparts greyer; less white in wing; blackish wing coverts have white edges in netted pattern; thin U-shaped black breastband; flanks grey. Immature: duller; upperparts mottled brownish; face and throat washed yellowish; wing coverts greyish black, tipped white, forming two pale bands across wing. Smutty patch on breast or deep U-shaped black band. Walks with head bobbing back and forward, tail jerking. Flight strongly undulating, showing blackish wings with double white wingbar, grey rump, white-edged black tail.