Citrine Wagtail
The Citrine Wagtail is a member of the wagtail family. It is a slender bird, with a long, constantly wagging tail characteristic of the genus Motacilla. The term “citrine” refers to its yellowish colouration.
During the breeding season, the male Citrine Wagtail is easily identified by its striking bright yellow head and underparts, black hind-neck collar and 2 bold white patches on the wing-coverts. The upperparts are dark slate-grey with a wash of olive-grey on the sides of the body and often blackish spots on the breast. The upper-tail is black and the bill and legs are blackish-brown. At other times of the year, the male bird becomes paler in colour and more similar in appearance to the duller female. The juvenile has little or no yellow plumage, with olive-brown on the breast and sides of the body.
The Citrine Wagtail breeds in north central Asia. Typically it leaves the northern breeding grounds between August and October and migrates to winter in south Asia. Its range is expanding westwards and it is a rare but increasing breeding bird in eastern Europe (e.g. Poland and Estonia) and an increasing vagrant to western Europe.
The Citrine Wagtail typically breeds in open country near water and favours marshes, bogs, the edge of lakes, wet grassland, areas of willow bushes in mountain meadows and occasionally fields near villages. Outside of the breeding season, it also occupies coastal marshes, brackish lagoons and river sandbars and artificial environments such as sewage farms and irrigated land.
The Citrine Wagtail is an insectivorous bird and it walks along the water’s edge, foraging and picking prey off the low vegetation It may also wade into shallow water to consume insects floating on the water surface.
Date: 18th May 2016
Location: Aardla polder, Estonia
During the breeding season, the male Citrine Wagtail is easily identified by its striking bright yellow head and underparts, black hind-neck collar and 2 bold white patches on the wing-coverts. The upperparts are dark slate-grey with a wash of olive-grey on the sides of the body and often blackish spots on the breast. The upper-tail is black and the bill and legs are blackish-brown. At other times of the year, the male bird becomes paler in colour and more similar in appearance to the duller female. The juvenile has little or no yellow plumage, with olive-brown on the breast and sides of the body.
The Citrine Wagtail breeds in north central Asia. Typically it leaves the northern breeding grounds between August and October and migrates to winter in south Asia. Its range is expanding westwards and it is a rare but increasing breeding bird in eastern Europe (e.g. Poland and Estonia) and an increasing vagrant to western Europe.
The Citrine Wagtail typically breeds in open country near water and favours marshes, bogs, the edge of lakes, wet grassland, areas of willow bushes in mountain meadows and occasionally fields near villages. Outside of the breeding season, it also occupies coastal marshes, brackish lagoons and river sandbars and artificial environments such as sewage farms and irrigated land.
The Citrine Wagtail is an insectivorous bird and it walks along the water’s edge, foraging and picking prey off the low vegetation It may also wade into shallow water to consume insects floating on the water surface.
Date: 18th May 2016
Location: Aardla polder, Estonia
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Also in: Estonia
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