White-browed wagtail

White-browed wagtail
Calls
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Motacillidae
Genus: Motacilla
Species:
M. maderaspatensis
Binomial name
Motacilla maderaspatensis
Year-round range (green), non-breeding visitor (blue)
Synonyms

Motacilla madaraspatensis lapsus
Motacilla lugubris maderaspatensis
Motacilla picata[2]
Motacilla maderaspatana[3]
Motacilla maderas[4]

The white-browed wagtail or large pied wagtail (Motacilla maderaspatensis) is a medium-sized bird and is the largest member of the wagtail family. They are conspicuously patterned with black above and white below, a prominent white brow, shoulder stripe and outer tail feathers. White-browed wagtails are native to South Asia, common near small water bodies and have adapted to urban environments where they often nest on roof tops. The specific name is derived from the Indian city of Madras (now Chennai).

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Motacilla maderaspatensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22718363A94577111. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22718363A94577111.en. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  2. ^ Jerdon, TC (1840). "Catalogue of the birds of the peninsula of India, arranged according to the modern system of classification; with brief notes on their habits and geographical distribution, and description of new, doubtful and imperfectly described specimens". Madras Jour. Lit. Sc. 11: 1–38.
  3. ^ Blyth, Edward (1819). Catalogue of the birds in the Museum Asiatic Society. The Asiatic Society. p. 137.
  4. ^ Stephens, JF (1817). General zoology. Volume 10. Part 2. Birds. Privately published, London. p. 548.