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Western Yellow Wagtails are the smallest in the genus Motacilla. 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. Juvenile Western Yellow Wagtails start off with a light-grey front and a darker-grey back; immature birds gradually develop yellow patches, first on the head and the vent.

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.

During the winters or migration, Western Yellow Wagtails of nominate race "flava" can be found in parts of Arabia, including the North coast of Oman.

Race "flava"