Birds in Spain - Andalucia - White Wagtail

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Species: White Wagtail – Motacilla alba – Lavandera blanca
White Wagtail M.a.alba
Polytypic. Nominate M.a.alba, continental Europe, Iceland, Faeroes, Asia Minor, and Levant, grading into dukhunensis in Urals, lower Volga basin, western Caucasus, and eastern Turkey; yarrellii,Britain, Ireland, and locally on coasts of western continental Europe; subpersonata Morocco.

Locally common breeding bird, but can be surprisingly scarce or even absent in some areas. Numbers greatly increase during late autumn and winter with the arrival of birds from northern Europe. During the winter the species is abundant and widespread. Our breeding population M.a.alba is thought to be resident; although it is likely some migrate the short distance into Morocco and possibly further south.


Especies: Lavandera blanca – Motacilla alba – White Wagtail


Politípica. Nomina M.a.alba, Europa continental, Islandia, Islas Feroe, Asia Menor y el Levante, la clasificación en dukhunensis en los Urales, la cuenca baja del Volga, el Cáucaso occidental y el este de Turquía; yarrellii, Gran Bretaña, Irlanda, y localmente en las costas del oeste de Europa continental; subpersonata Marruecos.

Aves de cría localmente comunes, pero pueden ser sorprendentemente escasos o incluso inexistentes en algunas áreas. Los números aumentan en gran medida durante el otoño y el invierno con la llegada de las aves del norte de Europa. Durante el invierno la especie es abundante y generalizada. Nuestra población reproductora M.a.alba se piensa que es residente, aunque es probable que algunos migran a la corta distancia en Marruecos y, posiblemente, más al sur.


M.a.alba
M.a.yarrellii
M.a.subpersonata
Author’s Note:
Birds from northern Europe generally (all nominate alba) have been recovered wintering round the entire Mediterranean coastline though very many more from African shore, particularly Algeria to Tunisia and also (largely birds from Finland) from Israel to Nile delta. Occasionally these large movements south bring the unexpected arrival of a few M.a.yarrellii to the province. Likewise northern movements can and do produce yet another subspecies to our shores and this is M.a.subpersonata from Morocco. I have included a photograph comparison for the nominate and 2 subspecies which can be encountered in Andalucia.
Nota del autor:
Las aves del norte de Europa en general (todos los nominar alba) se han recuperado de invernada en torno a la toda la costa mediterránea, aunque muchísimo más de la costa de África, especialmente Argelia, a Túnez, y también (en su mayoría aves de Finlandia) de Israel a la delta del Nilo. En ocasiones, estos grandes movimientos sur traer la llegada inesperada de unos pocos M.a.yarrellii a la provincia. Del mismo modo los movimientos norte pueden hacer y producir una nueva subespecie de nuestras costas y esto es M.a.subpersonata de Marruecos. He incluido una comparación de la fotografía para nominar y dos subespecies que se pueden encontrar en Andalucía.



Distribution of M.a.alba in Andalusia
Distribución de M.a.alba en Andalucía

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