Motacilla flava
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.
Length
15cm to 17cm
Wingspan
23cm to 27cm
Weight
15g to 25g
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
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.
Sea level to 4,500 meters
Temperate, Subtropical, Tropical
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:
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