About the Eastern Yellow Wagtail
The eastern yellow wagtail is a small passerine in the wagtail family Motacillidae, which also includes the pipits and longclaws. It was formerly usually classified as a subspecies of the western yellow wagtail, but was split from it in 2003 when genetic data showed this classification to be paraphyletic with respect to the citrine wagtail. It breeds in the eastern Palearctic and Alaska and migrates to South Asia and Australia.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
It is a slender 15–16 cm long bird, with the characteristic long, constantly wagging tail of its genus. The breeding adult male is basically olive-green above and yellow below. In other plumages, particularly first-winter birds but also many females, the yellow may be diluted by white. The heads of breeding males come in a variety of colours and patterns depending on subspecies.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Eastern Yellow Wagtail sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, Bhutan, Kuwait, Cyprus, Micronesia.
When to see it
Peak activity in December · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
African Pied WagtailMotacilla aguimpA striking black and white wagtail with black upperparts contrasting with white underparts, it has a white supercilium and a white patch in the folded wing.
Citrine WagtailMotacilla citreolaIt is a slender, 15.5–17 cm long bird, with the long, constantly wagging tail characteristic of the genus Motacilla.
White-browed WagtailMotacilla maderaspatensisThe white-browed wagtail is the largest species of wagtail at 21 cm (8.3 in) length.
Side by side: Cape Wagtail vs Eastern Yellow Wagtail · Eastern Yellow Wagtail vs White-browed Wagtail · African Pied Wagtail vs Eastern Yellow Wagtail · Citrine Wagtail vs Eastern Yellow Wagtail
Learn the Eastern Yellow Wagtail for real
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