Western Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flava

>> GENERAL >>>>>

– sparrow-sized passerine
– mainly diurnal migrant, to lesser extent nocturnal
– migrates singly or in small, loose flocks, at roosts several hundreds to thousands may flock
– very vocal
– taxonomic status likely not finally clarified

>> VISUAL ID >>>>>

BIF359_MPU_I1Q0898_130801_wwagt_1W_d_delitzsch
Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla f. flava, JUV
BIF0359, 01/08/2013, Delitzsch, Germany, Mathias Putze
BIF360_MPU_I1Q0951_130801_wwagt_1W_d_delitzsch
Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla f. flava, JUV
BIF0360, 01/08/2013, Delitzsch, Germany, Mathias Putze

Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla f. flava, 1CY
BIF2718, 18/08/2018, Dangast, Germany, Roland Neumann

Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla f. flava, 1CY
BIF2717, 18/08/2018, Dangast, Germany, Roland Neumann
BIF445_MPU_I1Q0444_130721_bluehwagt-AD-M_d_hof
Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla f. flava, M AD
BIF0445, 21/07/2013, Hof, Germany, Mathias Putze
BIF446_MPU_I1Q0454_130721_bluehwagt-AD-M_d_hof
Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla f. flava, M AD
BIF0446, 21/07/2013, Hof, Germany, Mathias Putze
BIF447_MPU_I1Q0467_130721_bluehwagt-AD-F_d_hof
Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla f. flava, F AD
BIF0447, 21/07/2013, Hof, Germany, Mathias Putze
BIF1003_MPU_I1Q1353_130913_bhwagt-1-F-AD_d_emden
Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla f. flava, F AD
BIF1003, 13/09/2013, Emden, Germany, Mathias Putze

Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla f. flava, 1CY
BIF2719, 18/08/2018, Dangast, Germany, Roland Neumann

>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>

– flight call a typical wagtail-like overslur
1st partial frequency range is 2-8 kHz
– great variability between the different ssp.
– some ssp. cannot be reliably distinguished in the field
– ssp. feldegg can sound confusingly similar to Citrine Wagtail


– overview –

– detail –
Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla f. flava, calls in flight
BIF3346, 10/06/2009, Tipperne, Germany, Patrick Franke


– overview –

– detail –
Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla f. flava, probably 1CY, calls during migration
BIF0448, 01/08/2013, Seelhausener See, Germany, Patrick Franke
– probably 1cy due to plasticity of the call


Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava beema, calls in flight
BIF0512, 26/04/2011, Ulytau, Kazakhstan, Patrick Franke


– overview –

– detail –
Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava beemaXfeldegg, flight calls
BIF3344, 25/05/2011, Ulytau, Kazakhstan, Patrick Franke


– overview –

– detail –
Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava feldegg, M, calls in flight
BIF3345, 06/04/2011, Aitbuzum, Kazakhstan, Patrick Franke

>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>

Eastern Yellow Wagtail (v) (a)
Citrine Wagtail (v) (a)
Grey Wagtail (v)
White Wagtail (v)

#passerine #songbird

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