Yellow Wagtail Bird Facts (Motacilla flava)

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Yellow Wagtail is a slender, long-tailed bird with a distinctive yellow underside. Males in breeding plumage have a bright yellow face and underparts, olive-green upperparts, and a dark head that varies in colour depending on the subspecies.

Females and non-breeding males are duller, with olive-brown upperparts and pale yellow underparts. Juveniles are even more subdued, with buff-tinged plumage and dark spots on the breast.

Size

Length

15cm to 17cm

Wingspan

23cm to 27cm

Weight

15g to 25g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Yellow Olive

Secondary Colour

White Grey

Beak Colour

Black Grey

Leg Colour

Black

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown Olive

Secondary Colour (Female)

White Yellow

Beak Colour (Female)

Black Grey

Leg Colour (Female)

Black

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Yellow Wagtail is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Yellow Wagtail is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Yellow Wagtail can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Yellow Wagtail is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Yellow Wagtail is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Yellow Wagtail can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Yellow Wagtail can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Yellow Wagtail is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Yellow Wagtail is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Yellow Wagtail is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Yellow Wagtail is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Yellow Wagtail is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Yellow Wagtails inhabit open areas near water, including wet meadows, marshes, and agricultural fields. They breed across Europe and Asia, from Iceland to Siberia.

During winter, they migrate to Africa, southern Asia, and parts of Australia. In the UK, they are summer visitors, arriving in April and departing by October, with some passage migrants seen in coastal areas.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 4,500 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical, Tropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Yellow Wagtail. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Resident

Breeding

Non-breeding

Passage

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Afghanistan Denmark Egypt Finland France Germany Gibraltar Greece Iran Italy Jordan Lebanon Mauritania Moldova Morocco Norway Oman Pakistan Sweden Syria Ukraine United Arab Emirates Western Sahara Yemen

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Albania Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria China Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Estonia Georgia Hungary Ireland Israel Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Russia San Marino Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Switzerland Tajikistan The United Kingdom Turkey Turkmenistan Uzbekistan

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Algeria Angola Bangladesh Benin Botswana Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Central African Republic Chad Congo Côte D'Ivoire Democratic Republic of the Congo Djibouti Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Eswatini Ethiopia Gabon Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau India Kenya Liberia Libya Malawi Mali Mozambique Namibia Niger Nigeria Rwanda Senegal Sierra Leone Somalia South Africa South Sudan Sri Lanka Sudan Tanzania Togo Tunisia Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe

Species that pass through the area during migration

Bahrain Bhutan Iraq Kuwait Malta Nepal Qatar Saudi Arabia

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Cape Verde Comoros Faroe Islands Iceland Maldives Seychelles Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 85

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Yellow Wagtail displays remarkable agility, evident in its quick running across open ground and constant tail-wagging behaviour. Its ability to chase insects and perform aerial displays during breeding season further demonstrates its nimbleness.

Strength 30

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

As a small bird weighing between 15-25 grams, the Yellow Wagtail has limited strength. However, it possesses sufficient power for its size to perform necessary tasks such as foraging and migration.

Adaptability 75

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

This species shows considerable adaptability, inhabiting a wide range of open habitats from sea level to 4,500 metres elevation. Its ability to thrive in various climates and its long-distance migration capabilities indicate strong adaptive traits.

Aggressiveness 40

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Yellow Wagtails are not particularly aggressive birds. They are gregarious, forming large flocks during migration and winter. However, males may display some territorial behaviour during breeding season, hence the moderate score.

Endurance 80

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

The endurance of the Yellow Wagtail is impressive, particularly considering its long-distance migration between Europe/Asia and Africa/southern Asia. Its ability to undertake such journeys and forage actively throughout the day suggests high stamina.

Diet

Yellow Wagtails primarily feed on small insects and invertebrates. They forage on the ground, often following grazing animals to catch disturbed insects. Their diet includes flies, beetles, moths, and small aquatic invertebrates found in their wetland habitats.

Behaviour

Yellow Wagtails are known for their constant tail-wagging behaviour, which gives them their name. They are often seen running quickly across open ground, chasing insects.

These birds are gregarious, forming large flocks during migration and in winter roosts.

Vocalisation

The Yellow Wagtail's call is a sharp, high-pitched 'tslee-tslee' or 'tswee-tswee', often given in flight.

Their song, typically delivered from a perch or during display flights, is a series of twittering notes and trills, sometimes described as 'tsirrup-tsirrup-tsirrup'.

Nesting & Breeding

Breeding occurs from late April to August. Males perform aerial displays to attract females, singing while flying in circles.

Nests are built on the ground, often concealed in dense vegetation. They are cup-shaped structures made of grass, leaves, and moss, lined with finer materials. Females typically lay 4-6 eggs, which are pale grey or cream with dark speckles.

Incubation lasts about 11-13 days, primarily by the female. Both parents feed the chicks, which fledge after 10-14 days but remain dependent on adults for another two weeks.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern ^[1]

While listed as Least Concern globally, Yellow Wagtail populations are declining in parts of Europe due to habitat loss and agricultural intensification.

Conservation efforts focus on preserving wetlands and promoting wildlife-friendly farming practices.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

64,000,000 - 107,000,000 mature individuals ^[2]

Global Population Trend

^[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Western Yellow Wagtail

Family:

Motacillidae

Average Lifespan

3 years

Max Lifespan

8.8 years ^[4]

Predators

Main predators include birds of prey such as Sparrowhawks and Merlins, as well as ground predators like foxes and domestic cats.

Did You Know?

Yellow Wagtails can walk underwater to catch aquatic insects.
There are at least 13 recognised subspecies, each with distinct head colouration in males.
They often roost communally in reedbeds, sometimes with other wagtail species.

References

1 2
website: BirdLife International. 2019. Motacilla flava (amended version of 2018 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T103822349A155602678.
View source
3
report, 2015: EBCC
4
website, 2010: Fransson et al., EURING list of longevity records for European birds
View source