Date: 10/25/26 11:10 am From: Andrew Birch via groups.io <andyrbirch...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] White Wagtail Subspecies (not an Amur)
Hi Jim, ageing and sexing White Wagtails is fraught with peril/bordering on impossible for some birds but both 2CY+ female and 1st winter male leucopsis have dark crowns but grayer backs than adult males. On the LA bird, the very dark gray mantle, blackish scapular feathers, rump, white flanks and apparently all white median coverts would be supporting features vs baicalensis and also dukhunensis.
I would recommend all birders interested in wagtail and pipit ID to secure the indispensible Alstrom and Mild Pipits and Wagtails book and additionally the newer and excellent ID Handbook of European Birds by Nils van Duivendijk has a nice spread of photos of this form.
Best, Andy BirchLos Feliz
On Sunday, October 25, 2026 at 08:56:42 AM PDT, condor262001 via groups.io <condor262001...> wrote:
This bird at the Sepulveda Coastal Spreading grounds has been reported as a Chinese Wagtail that I believe is also called AMUR.That wagtail has a black back. On reviewing my images/movies this bird clearly has a grey back.Hence I believe it is either a Transbaikalian Wagtail (Motacilla alba Balcalensis) or the somewhat more generic White-faced Wagtail thatincludes the dukhunensis variety and that ebird refers as White-faced Wagtail Motacilla alba lab/dukhensis/baicalensis.I am sure others will weigh in. My images and movies are on my Flick pagehttps://www.flickr.com/photos/25876581@N00/ Jim Hechthermosa Beach CA
