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24

Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) Alternate name(s): "Yellow Wagtail" (many others for individual races) German name(s): "Schafstelze" Size: 15-16 cm; wing span 23-27 cm Weight: 16-22 g

Europe: Family Group 24 Family Group 24 Table White Wagtail Western Yellow Wagtail Grey Wagtail Tawny Pipit Berthelot's Pipit Red-throated Pipit Tree Pipit Meadow Pipit Water Pipit Eurasian Rock Pipit Greater Short-toed Lark Calandra Lark Woodlark Eurasian Skylark Bearded Reedling House Sparrow Tree Sparrow Spanish Sparrow Rock Sparrow Trumpeter Finch European Serin Atlantic Canary Red-fronted Serin Eurasian Siskin Common Redpoll Arctic Redpoll Common Linnet Brambling Common Chaffinch European Goldfinch Eurasian Bullfinch Hawfinch Common Crossbill Common Rosefinch Yellowhammer Cirl Bunting Common Reed Bunting Ortolan Bunting Black-headed Bunting Corn Bunting Rock Bunting House Bunting Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Western Yellow Wagtails are the smallest of all wagtail species. Their plumage is dimorphic, i.e. males and females are different. Male Western Yellow Wagtails, nominate race "flava", have a bright yellow front, from the throat all the way down to the undertail coverts. The crown, sides of the head and nape of the neck are grey, with a prominent white eyebrow. The mantle is yellowish-grey, while the flight feathers and the tail are dark-grey with light-grey edge lining. Female Western Yellow Wagtails have much more inconspicuous colours. Their throat and chest are greyish with a yellow tinge. The belly and undertail coverts are pale-yellow. The upperparts and the head are very similar to those of males. Both sexes have black irises, a dark-grey bill and long, dark-grey legs and feet. For differences in morphology in different races of Western Yellow Wagtail, consult a field guide.

Taxonomy, classification See Western Yellow Wagtail at Wikipedia . Click here for classification information Eastern Yellow Wagtails (Motacilla tschutschensis) have now been given species status by several authorities and are no longer considered to be a race of the Western Yellow Wagtail.

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Western Yellow Wagtail is available HERE . Altogether, the about 15-20 currently recognized races of Western Yellow Wagtails have a wide-spanning range. They occur from western Europe to central Asia, migrating southward to parts of Africa and southern Asia. Nominate race "flava" inhabits the mountain ranges in most of Europe, from southern Scandinavia to France, and in eastern Europe up to the Balkans. Winter migrants reach sub-Saharan Africa. Race "thunbergi" breeds in central and northern Scandinavia and in northern European Russia. Race "feldegg" breed in south-eastern Europe, from the Balkans eastward to the Caucasus. Race "iberiae" breeds on the Iberian peninsula. Race "flavissima" breeds on the British Isles and the coast of Normandy. Different races can be observed along their favoured migration routes. For example, we have obtained records of races "flava", "feldegg", "flavissima" seen on the Iberian peninsula (in southern/central Portugal) during migration, in addition to the locally breeding race "iberiae".

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "flava" A. Sarok reports spotting a Western Yellow Wagtail, nominate race "flava", 5 km North of Temerin, Serbia, in June 2014. K. Paunovic reports finding Western Yellow Wagtails, nominate race "flava", near Novi Sad, Serbia, in April 2015. D. Wilczynska reports spotting Western Yellow Wagtails, nominate race "flava", at the River Bug Landscape Park, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, in July 2015. Subsequently, a male Western Yellow Wagtail, nominate race "flava", was found in Biebrza National Park, Poland, in May 2016 and again in May 2017. More Yellow Wagtails were found on the river Bug, near Malkinia, Masovia, Poland, in the time frame July/August 2019. Since then, D. Wilczynska has found Western Yellow Wagtails, nominate race "flava", near the river Bug again and also in other locations in Poland during the breeding season. G. Normand found a Western Yellow Wagtail, race "flava", near Saint Omer, between Lille and Boulogne-sur-Mer, Hauts-de-France, France, in June 2020. Another was found at Nieppe, Hauts-de-France, France, in May 2021. J. Pires found a Western Yellow Wagtail, race "flava", along the Raia River, Mora, Evora, Portugal, in September 2020. Race "feldegg" D. Wilczynska spotted Western Yellow Wagtails, race "feldegg", in Georgia, on the southern slopes of the Caucasus. J. Pires found a Western Yellow Wagtail, race "feldegg", along the Raia river, Mora, Evora, Portugal, in September 2020. Race "thunbergi" M. Eaton reports spotting a Western Yellow Wagtail, race "thunbergi", near Oslo airport, Oslo, Norway, in June 2018. Race "iberiae" J. Pires reports finding Western Yellow Wagtails, race "iberiae", occasionally during the breeding season in the area from the Tejo estuary to Mora, Evora, Portugal. Race "flavissima" J. Pires reports finding Western Yellow Wagtails, race "flavissima", occasionally - usually in the months of September/October - near Mora, Evora, Portugal.

Photos

Race "flava"

This race is also called the "Blue-headed Wagtail".

ADULT

MALE

Near-frontal view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza NP, Poland, May 2017]

Near-lateral view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2015]

Lateral view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of A. Sarok)
[5 km North of Temerin, Serbia, June 2014]

Lateral view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail perched on canola (photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Nieppe, Hauts-de-France, France, May 2021]

Lateral view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of K. Paunovic)
[Near Novi Sad, Serbia, April 2015]

Lateral view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2015]

Near-dorsal view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Malkinia, Masovia, Poland, August 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Malkinia, Masovia, Poland, August 2019]

Dorsal view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza NP, Poland, May 2016]

FEMALE

Near-frontal view of a female Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug Landscape Park, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, July 2015]

Near-frontal view of a female Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug Landscape Park, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, July 2015]

Lateral view of a female Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug Landscape Park, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, July 2015]

Lateral view of a moulting female Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Malinowo, Masovia, Poland, September 2016]

Lateral view of a female Western Yellow Wagtail and a Common Sandpiper (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Malkinia, Masovia, Poland, August 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a moulting female Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Malinowo, Masovia, Poland, September 2016]

Dorsal view of a moulting female Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Malinowo, Masovia, Poland, September 2016]

Sex unknown

Lateral view of two moulting Western Yellow Wagtails (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Malkinia, Masovia, Poland, July 2019]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of a moulting female Western Yellow Wagtail, back, with a dependent juvenile, front
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Malinowo, Masovia, Poland, September 2016]

An immature Western Yellow Wagtail was also photographed by us in Oman.

Lateral view of a female Western Yellow Wagtail with a fledgling (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, July 2017]

Race "feldegg"

This race is also called the "Black-headed Wagtail".

ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[June 2018]

Frontal view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[June 2018]

Near-frontal view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[June 2018]

Near-lateral view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail issuing its call (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[June 2018]

Lateral view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[June 2018]

Lateral view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[June 2018]

Dorsal view of a male, left, with a first-winter Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of J. Pires) HREF="/img/dbirds/24/yelwagt_jp_8098_big.jpg">
[Raia River, Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2020]

FEMALE

Lateral view of a female Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[June 2018]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a juvenile Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[June 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[June 2018]

Race "thunbergi"

This race is also called the "Dark-headed Wagtail" or "Grey-headed Wagtail".

ADULT

MALE

Near-frontal view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Oslo airport, Oslo, Norway, June 2018]

Race "iberiae"

This race is also called the "Iberian Yellow Wagtail".

ADULT

MALE

BREEDING

Near-lateral view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2019]

Near-lateral view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2019]

Lateral view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, May 2020]

Lateral view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail in breeding plumage issuing its call (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2019]

Lateral view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail in breeding plumage; this is the bird whose "various" calls were recorded on 16 March 2020
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2020]

Lateral view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail in breeding plumage; this is the bird whose "contact" call was recorded on 16 March 2020
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2020]

Lateral/ventral view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, May 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail in breeding plumage; this is the bird whose "contact" call was recorded on 16 March 2020
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Alhos Vedros, Moita, Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2020]

Dorsal view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, May 2020]

FEMALE

Near-frontal view of a female Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, September 2019]

Near-lateral view of a female Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, September 2019]

Near-lateral view of a female Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, September 2019]

Lateral view of a female Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Lateral view of a female Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a female Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

NON-BREEDING

Sex unknown

Lateral view of a Western Yellow Wagtail in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2019]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Female Western Yellow Wagtail with a dependent juvenile (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, May 2020]

Lateral view of a juvenile Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, May 2020]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Lateral view of a juvenile Western Yellow Wagtail stretching a wing (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, May 2020]

Lateral view of a moulting juvenile Western Yellow Wagtail in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, July 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a moulting juvenile Western Yellow Wagtail with its prey (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, July 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, May 2020]

Lateral view of a fledgling(?) Western Yellow Wagtail looking towards the observer
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, June 2021]

Lateral view of a fledgling(?) Western Yellow Wagtail looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, June 2021]

Lateral view of a fledgling(?) Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, June 2021]

Race "flavissima"

This race is also called the "Yellow-crowned Wagtail".

ADULT

MALE

BREEDING

Lateral view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

Lateral view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail in mellow light (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2018]

Lateral view of a male Western Yellow Wagtail in mellow light (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2018]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Apr - Aug

Eggs: 4 - 6

Incubation period: 10 - 13 days

Fledging age: 10 - 14 days

The length of the breeding season depends on geographic latitude.

Nest

Type: Basket

Material: Grass, animal hair

Height above ground: N/A

Nest building: Female

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female & male

Near-frontal view of a female Western Yellow Wagtail carrying nest material (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, May 2020]

Lateral view of a female Western Yellow Wagtail carrying nest material (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, May 2020]

Eggs

Size: 19 x 14 mm

Colour: Light-grey, with small brownish speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial?

Mobility: Sedentary/migratory

Elementary unit: Pair/family clan

As all wagtails of the Motacilla genus, Western Yellow Wagtails constantly wag their tails in an up and down motion.

This male Western Yellow Wagtail was found foraging in a wheat crop (photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Near Saint Omer, between Lille and Boulogne-sur-Mer, Hauts-de-France, France, June 2020]

Food, Diet

Like all Motacilla wagtails known to us, Western Yellow Wagtails are insectivores.

Lateral view of a female Western Yellow Wagtail with food for its brood (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, June 2021]

Near-frontal view of a female Western Yellow Wagtail with its prey, a flying insect (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug Landscape Park, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, July 2015]

Lateral view of a first-winter Western Yellow Wagtail with its prey (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Santa Justa, Coruche, Portugal, September 2020]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

yelwagt_dw_20200604.m4a	flava (Poland)	Contact calls?	© DW
yelwagt_jp_20200316.m4a	iberiae (SW Portugal)	Contact call? (male)	© JP
yelwagt_jp_20200505.m4a	iberiae (SW Portugal)	Contact calls?	© JP
yelwagt_jp_20200517.m4a	iberiae (SW Portugal)	Contact calls? (in-flight)	© JP
yelwagt_jp_20200316_2.m4a	iberiae (SW Portugal)	Various (male)	© JP

More Western Yellow Wagtail sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.

Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee that the information presented on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no responsibility for the contents of external pages. All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us: We hereby acknowledge the original custodians of the land which is described on these pages, including the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people of the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW, and the traditional owners of other lands and nations within this country. We acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.          Last updated: Sun, 23 April 2023, 1:38 +00:00