Wagtails and pipits · Perching birds
Citrine Wagtail
Copied!
Motacilla citreola
Copied!
Voice
Call
Sonothèque ADVL
Call
Jochem Verweij
Call
Jochem Verweij
How to recognize it
-
15–17 cm, slender, with a long tail that keeps wagging
-
Breeding male: yellow head and underparts, grey-black above
-
White wing patches; in winter, yellow fades and the head turns brownish
-
Often by water in open ground, moving with quick steps
About the species
The Citrine Wagtail keeps its long tail in constant motion, and that flicking habit is one of the first things to notice. In breeding plumage, the male shows grey or black above and bright yellow below, with yellow covering much of the head.
It moves with quick steps and rarely sits still for long. Its voice is thin and sharp, and the tail keeps flicking even when it pauses.
It breeds in wet meadows and tundra, usually near water, and nests on the ground. It feeds on insects and moves to South Asia in winter, often to highland areas.
Where to find
-
On wet meadows by water — in town, look along pond edges, canal banks, and overgrown backwaters where it flicks its tail and picks insects right at the shoreline.
-
On soggy lawns and open vacant lots after rain — most noticeable when it runs quickly over the ground and grabs small prey.
-
At the reed fringe of calm shallows — especially in the morning, when it makes short dashes onto the open bank and slips back into cover.
-
Along broad embankments with patchy grass and puddles — it may perch on low rails or curbs, tail wagging as it scans for insects.
You might also see
Sources
- eBird — Motacilla citreola Sightings map and full description on eBird
- Wikipedia — Citrine wagtail Encyclopedia article