Black-backed Wagtail

Motacilla lugens

Also known as:Japanese Pied Wagtail

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

18 cm (7") Rare. Aleutians, western coast. Strays from Asia.

Black cap and back. Black breast and lower throat. Long black tail edged in white. Resembles White Wagtail but has a black, not gray, back and usually white chin beneath bill. Also in flight it shows more white in the wing.

In flight; undulating.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

1 photo

Credit: Nemo's great uncle

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

ハクセキレイ・Black-backed Wagtail

Credit: HRS5758D

【eos60d】ハクセキレイ black-backed wagtail at park in japan

Credit: nyarumera

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Black-Backed Wagtail

1 rule

Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 1

What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light outer edge or corners · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northwestern Canada or United States

result:752-black-backed-wagtail:1:1 Source: 752 Black-Backed Wagtail, row 1

Black-Backed Wagtail (Immature)

1 rule

Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 1

What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light outer edge or corners · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northwestern Canada or United States

result:753-black-backed-wagtail-immature:1:1 Source: 753 Black-Backed Wagtail (Immature), row 1