Juveniles have a less conspicuous breast band and a fainter supercilium.

[4] The Madagascar wagtail is typically found around water, such as rivers, lakes and seashores, also in open areas such a rice paddies and gardens.

[3] The diet of the Madagascar wagtail mainly consists of small invertebrates, notably insects and spiders.

It forages by walking or running on the ground, moving its tail up and down in typical wagtail fashion and suddenly jumping up a few metres into the air to capture prey.

[4] The nest is a bowl shape which is situated near the ground in dense foliage, the fork of a branch, a rock crevice or under the roof of a building but always near water.