Masked Wagtail

Motacilla personata (Gould, 1861)

2017-05-21 SFK	© Vyacheslav Yusupov

Description

The adult Masked Wagtails are very resemble the White Wagtail with which formerly the Masked Wagtail treated as conspecific. It is well distinguished from the White Wagtail by the black flanks of the neck; black extends to the fore part of the mantle. On side view the black color of the head and of the craw is not divided by the white. The median and greater wing coverts are white. The tail is black; outer tail feathers are white. The bill and legs are black. In fresh plumage except the listed features it is also characterised by the throat not white but black with clearly appearing white. The chin is white. Juveniles differ from the White Wagtail by the smoke-grey throat and craw. Weight 21-29 grams, wing 82-99, tail 80-101 mm.

References

"Птицы Казахстана" том 3. "Наука". Алма-Ата, 1970. А.Ф.Ковшарь "Певчие птицы". Алма-Ата, "Кайнар", 1983.