The African Pied Wagtail (Motacilla aguimp vidua) is found throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Motacilla means little mover.

The African Pied Wagtail is a small, black and white bird with black upperparts and white underparts. Juvenile birds are greyer. It has a white eyebrow and mainly white wings. Its tail is long.

African Pied Wagtail (juvenile)

The African Pied Wagtail can grow to 20 centimetres (8 inches) tall.

The African Pied Wagtail prefers subtropical or tropical grassland, rivers, and, sometimes, freshwater marshes.

It is mostly insectivorous, but will also eat grass seeds, tadpoles, and scraps of food in urban areas.

Both the males and females make their nest, but only the females sit on the eggs. The nest is cup-shaped, and made of hair, feathers, and grass. Females lay 2-7 eggs. Male and female parents feed the chicks when they hatch.

African Pied Wagtail (juvenile)

African Pied Wagtail (juvenile)

African Pied Wagtail

African Pied Wagtail

African Pied Wagtail

Location of photographs: Kisumu, Kenya

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM