Pipits and Wagtails (Motacillidae)

Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis) - HBW 9, p. 778

French: Bergeronnette du Japon German: Japanstelze Spanish: Lavandera Japonesa
Other common names: Japanese Pied Wagtail

Taxonomy: Motacilla grandis Sharpe, 1885, Japan.
Formerly treated as conspecific with M. alba, but the two breed sympatrically in Japan. Both thought to form a superspecies with M. maderaspatensis, M. samveasnae and M. aguimp, although recent analyses of mitochondrial DNA suggest that last species possibly more distantly related to this group. Monotypic.

Distribution: Breeds in Japan; non-breeding visitor to Korea (has bred) and S to Taiwan.