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Western Yellow Wagtail

Larks, Pipits & Wagtails

Photo: Karim Haddad · CC BY 4.0

Motacilla flava

Basic stats

Diet

Insects

Habitat

Open country near water, such as wet meadows

Range

Breeds across temperate Europe and Asia; winters in tropical Africa and southern Asia

Clutch size

4–8 eggs

Size

15–16cm

The western yellow wagtail is a slender wagtail, 15–16cm long, with the long, constantly wagging tail of its genus, though it is the shortest-tailed of the European wagtails. The breeding male is olive above and yellow below, while in other plumages, especially juveniles, the yellow may be diluted to whitish. The head colour and pattern of breeding males vary greatly between subspecies, and its taxonomy is confusing, with dozens of forms described. Its call is a high-pitched jeet (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is an insectivorous bird of open country near water, such as wet meadows, and nests in tussocks, laying four to eight speckled eggs. It breeds across much of temperate Europe and Asia, and most populations migrate south to tropical Africa and southern Asia for the winter (Wikipedia, general species account).

Quick answers

What does the Western Yellow Wagtail eat?
Insects
What habitat does the Western Yellow Wagtail live in?
Open country near water, such as wet meadows
Where is the Western Yellow Wagtail found?
Breeds across temperate Europe and Asia; winters in tropical Africa and southern Asia
How many eggs does the Western Yellow Wagtail lay?
4–8 eggs
How big is the Western Yellow Wagtail?
15–16cm
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