Dave Taylor's African Safari: Trophic Level III: Omnivores and Small Carnivores - African Pied Wagtail

Trophic Level III: Omnivores and Small Carnivores
African Pied Wagtail
Page 28

Motacilla aguimp

Length: 20 cm (8")

Status: Common

Habitat: African pied wagtails are found near long rivers, marshes, lakes, ponds and streams throughout East Africa.

Food: African pied wagtails eat insects.

Social System/Behavior: African pied wagtails build a bulky, cup-shaped nest usually located in a rocky cleft. The nest is lined with hair and fine grasses. Feathers are also used. Wildebeest that die in river crossings often provide the hair needed for lining the nest.

The female lays two to seven eggs.

Predators: Cuckoos often lay their eggs in the wagtail’s nest. The wagtail then feeds and raises the cuckoo chick which is larger than the young wagtail. In such a case, only the cuckoo chick survives.

Birds of prey, servals, snakes and monitor lizards are all potential predators.

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