Western Yellow Wagtail

Overview

The western yellow wagtail (Motacilla flava) is a small passerine bird in the family Motacillidae. It breeds in much of temperate Europe and Asia, with most populations migrating south to tropical Africa and southern Asia for the winter.

Identification

• Slender body, 15–16 cm long, with a short, constantly wagging tail.
• Breeding adult males are olive above and yellow below; juveniles and non-breeding plumages show diluted, whitish yellow.
• Head colours and patterns vary significantly by subspecies, with breeding males displaying diverse head markings.
• Call is a high-pitched 'jeet'.

Habitat

Inhabits open country near water, such as wet meadows. Range covers temperate Europe and Asia, with wintering grounds in tropical Africa and southern Asia; a small resident population exists in Egypt.

Diet

Insectivorous, foraging in open habitats near water.

Did you know?

In the Pyramid Texts of Old Kingdom Egypt, the yellow wagtail was considered a representation of the god Atum and may have been the first inspiration for the Bennu bird, which later inspired the Greek phoenix.