African Pied Wagtail

35 Replies

Motacilla aguimp

African Pied Wagtails are always found near bodies of water, both natural and man-made and both flowing and stagnant, but with a particular fondness for wide rivers with sandy banks and boulders in and around the water. Here they feed mainly on invertebrates ranging from worms to crabs, but will also consume tadpoles, small fish and seeds. Adults weigh around 27g and grow to about 20cm in length.

Pied Wagtails are usually seen in monogamous pairs, or small family groups during the breeding season. Both parents work to build the cup-shape nest, often over or otherwise near water, using grass, leaves, hair and feathers. Their breeding season stretches from late winter to early autumn. The clutch of 2-5 eggs are incubated by both parents for around 2 weeks, with the chicks becoming independent at around 6 weeks of age.

The African Pied Wagtail has a very wide distribution over sub-saharan Africa and along the Nile River, and is classified as being of least concern by the IUCN. In South Africa they are mainly found from the Eastern Cape through Kwazulu-Natal to Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Gauteng, extending into the North West, Free State and Northern Cape along the Orange-Vaal Riversystem.

 

African Pied wagtail
African Pied Wagtail
African Pied wagtail
African Pied wagtails
African Pied wagtail
African Pied Wagtail
African Pied Wagtail
African Pied Wagtail
African Pied Wagtail
African Pied Wagtail
African Pied Wagtail
African Pied Wagtail
African Pied Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Pied Wagtail (photo by Joubert)
African Pied Wagtail
Pied Wagtail in flight
Pied Wagtail
African Pied Wagtail
African Pied Wagtail

35 thoughts on “African Pied Wagtail”

      1. perdebytjie

        Ek dink ons het al daaroor gepraat, maar kon jy al meer uitvind oor die parasiete wat die gewone kwikkies se pootjies aanval? Ek merk dit al meer op. Soms het hulle net een been of net stompies waarop hulle rondhop.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. de Wets Wild Post author

        Ja, Dina, dis n hartseer storie en weer een waar die mens n “vinger in die pie” het. Volgens n studie deur UJ is dit n gevolg van die hoogs aansteeklike Knemidocoptes myt wat die beenweefsel aanval, die bloedtoevoer afsny en so vrot die beentjie of voetjie dan uiteindelik af. Ons wilde voels het dit by troetelvoels aangesteek.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. de Wets Wild Post author

        Die studie was baie spesifiek tot kwikstertjies, maar self het ek ook al janfrederikkies, geelvinke en duiwe gesien wat aangetas is. Ek het nog nooit gevalle in reservate gesien nie, altyd net in die stad (Germiston en Pretoria) en hopelik word die besmetting beperk tot stede en dorpe waar mense en hul hokvoels hou.

        As jy tyd het en kans sien vir n stuk wetenskaplike leeswerk, kan jy gerus hier loer Dina: https://ujcontent.uj.ac.za/vital/access/services/Download/uj:12203/CONTENT1

        Liked by 1 person

      5. perdebytjie

        In Swakopmund is die kwikkies erg aangetas. Ek het al van hulle gesien met geen voete nie en soms net een stompie waarop hulle rondhop en dan bietjie rus. Ongelooflik hoe hulle aanpas. Dankie ek gaan beslis lees as ek kans kry.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Beth

        So am I. Now all that needs to happen is to figure out how my own blog works and start posting again. Occasionally, I can log into one, but not the other. ;-(

        Like

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