Western Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flava

Wetland edges. Below yellow; above green-grey; various head patterns.

Not Endemic

Description

Locally common summer visitor. Many distinct races visit southern Africa; best identified by the differing head patterns that males acquire in late summer after completing their moult. Identification of non-breeding males and females almost impossible. At least five races have been recorded (some are sometimes considered separate species). Most common are M. f. flava (Blue-headed Wagtail; not illustrated), M. f. lutea (Yellow-headed Wagtail; (c)) and M. f. thunbergi (Grey-headed Wagtail; (a)). Less often encountered are M. f. beema (Sykes’s Wagtail; (d)) and M. f. feldegg (Black-headed Wagtail; (b)). Overall distinguished from [Grey Wagtail] by shorter tail, olive-green (not grey) upper parts including rump, and entirely yellow underparts. Non-breeding birds (especially females and immatures) much duller; yellow coloration faint and restricted to lower belly. Immature in first winter plumage can also be confused with (Grey Wagtail); cf. that species. The call is ‘tsee-ip’. Occurs singly in floodplains and moist grassland; often at sewage works or in cattle pens and feedlots.

Quick Facts

Bird Family

Small, insectivorous terrestrial birds, water-associated in wagtails. The sexes are alike or closely similar, all with white or buff outer tail-feathers. Pipits are among the most difficult birds to identify in the field. Reliable identification relies on careful observation of the coloration of bare parts (influenced by blood circulation), as well as proportions, calls, tail-wagging, behaviour and subtle plumage differences. Nevertheless, it is often impossible to confidently identify pipits to species level. Most pipits utter a ‘chissik' or ‘chip' call on take-off, their flight low and dipping. Longclaws are large, colourful pipits, while wagtails are mostly well known because of their confiding and friendly behaviour. Wagtails (and many pipits) have the habit of continually bobbing their tails up and down.