Motacilla alba

The White Wagtail is classified as Vulnerable (VU) because of the small size of its breeding population, estimated at less than 50 mature individuals, combined with a regional adjustment for the fact that the breeding population in Israel is a marginal population at the edge of its global range. In the previous edition of the Red Book (2002), it was classified as Near Threatened (NT). The deterioration in the status of the species reflects its reduced population size and breeding range, as well as differences in assessment methods.

Habitats	Wetland Thickets, Wetlands with Shallow Banks
Presence In Israel	Summer Breeder, Winter Visitor
Nesting In Israel	Breeder
Migration Types	Resident
Zoography Zones	Mediterranean
Landscape Formations	Swamps, Riparian, Wetlands, Freshwater Bodies, Mud Plain
Vegetation Formations	Wetland Thickets
Vegetation Densities	Low, Medium
Nest Locations	Ground
Diet Types	Invertebrate
Foraging Grounds	Ground
Body Sizes	Small (up to 500g)
Threat Factors	Pesticide Poisoning, Wetland Drainage & Pollution

The White Wagtail is the best known of the four wagtail species seen in Israel. Its contrasting plumage is dominated by hues of white, grey and black. The adult has a black cap and nape, a white forehead and face and a black bib. The back and upperparts are grey, the belly and underparts, white. Body is narrow and slender, with a long tail that it bobs up and down excitedly. It walks vigorously, with jumpy head movements, coordinated with its bobbing tail, occasionally dashing out in pursuit of insects, stopping suddenly and bobbing its tail in long rapid movements. Flight is undulating, and flight call is a characteristic disyllabic note.

A rare breeder in the Galilee and Golan, and a common winter visitor and passage migrant throughout the country. Some 15-25 pairs nest in Israel every year, mainly in the Hula Valley, the Golan Heights, the northern Sea of Galilee and the Western Galilee.

The White Wagtail nests near water, on streambanks, fishponds and reservoirs, in a variety of hidden nooks and crevices. The clutch has 4-7 eggs.

The White Wagtail has been affected by the destruction and pollution of wetland habitats, and possibly also by the intensive use of insecticides in agriculture and water bodies.

No specific conservation measures have been taken for this species to date.

• פז, ע. 1986. עופות. מתוך אלון, ע. (עורך), החי והצומח של ארץ ישראל. כרך 6. הוצאת משרד הביטחון, ישראל.

• Shirihai, H., 1996. The Birds of Israel. Academic Press, London.
• Symes, A. 2013. Species generation lengths. Unpublished, BirdLife International.
• Species page at Birdlife International