On 9 April Adam Byrne found, and others photographed, an ABA Code-3 White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) at Point Mouillee SGA, Monroe County, Michigan. As of mid-morning, today, Sunday, the bird is still being seen in Cell 3 of the Vermet Unit.
The subspecies of the Michigan bird has not yet been discussed on-line. At least 11 subspecies of White Wagtail have been recognized, some having been recognized as species in the past (Black-backed Wagtail, e.g.). Widespread integration occurs where subspecies meet and multiple subspecies co-occur in winter ranges. M. a. ocularis has bred in western Alaska (Handbook of the Birds of the World, Volume 9).
Northern and eastern White Wagtail subspecies are long distant migrants. In Japan, winter flocks of the subspecies lugens has been found in roosts of 2,000−7000 individuals. White Wagtail is a common species in most of its Eurasian range with over 12 million breeding pairs estimated for the European population
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