Mountain Wagtail

The Mountain Wagtail, or Motacilla clara, also known as the Long-tailed Wagtail or Grey-backed Wagtail, is a slender bird with a notably extended tail. Its upperparts are a light bluish-grey, while its underparts are a crisp white, accented with a narrow black breast band. The wings are a stark black with white feather edges and two white wing covert bars. The outer tail feathers are white, contrasting with the black center. A blackish face is highlighted by a white supercilium and the eyelid. Juveniles present a browner hue compared to the adults.

Identification Tips

When attempting to identify the Mountain Wagtail, look for its long tail, which it characteristically wags up and down. The combination of its light bluish-grey upperparts, white underparts with a distinctive black breast band, and the black and white pattern on its wings and tail are key features. The white supercilium and eyelid are also notable markers.

Habitat

The Mountain Wagtail shows a preference for small rivers and streams in hilly terrains, particularly where waterfalls and flat rocks are present in shallow waters. It thrives in areas where hill slopes are adorned with forests, woodlands, or dense scrub. It can also be found along forest paths, tracks, roads, and occasionally in gardens.

Distribution

This species is found across sub-Saharan Africa, from Guinea to Ethiopia and southwards to South Africa. In southern Africa, it is locally common in the northern and eastern highlands of Zimbabwe, parts of Mozambique, and down to the Eastern Cape.

Behaviour

The Mountain Wagtail is a monogamous and territorial bird, often pairing for life. It exhibits solitary nesting habits. Foraging occurs mainly along watercourses where it searches for prey on rocks, in sand, and shallow water.

Breeding

Both sexes contribute to building a nest, which is a bulky cup lined with root fibers, plant stalks, and fibrous tissues, set upon a foundation that is moistened and then dried. Nests are typically placed in cavities along stream banks, on boulders, rock faces, or dam walls, and sometimes in vegetation over water or near deep pools. Breeding in southern Africa occurs from August to May, peaking from September to December. Clutches usually consist of 1-4 eggs, incubated by both parents for 13-14 days. Nestlings are fed and brooded by both parents, with constant brooding in the initial days, tapering off as they age. Fledging occurs at 14-18 days old, with the young staying in their parents' territory for up to 48 days.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Mountain Wagtail is primarily insectivorous, consisting of flies, caddisflies, mayflies, dragonflies, damselflies, butterflies, moths, beetles, grubs, slugs, and tadpoles.

Conservation status

The Mountain Wagtail is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it is not currently at significant risk of widespread decline.