The western yellow wagtail is a small passerine bird in the wagtail family Motacillidae, which also includes the pipits and longclaws. This species breeds in much of temperate Europe and Asia. Most populations are migratory, moving south to tropical Africa and southern Asia for the winter; the small population breeding in Egypt is however resident there.
Region
Europe and Asia (Palearctic)
Typical Environment
Breeds widely across temperate Europe and into western and central Asia, favoring open, damp landscapes. During the nonbreeding season it migrates to sub‑Saharan Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and parts of Southeast Asia. It frequents wet meadows, floodplains, riverbanks, marsh edges, rice paddies, and pastoral farmland. It is often associated with grazing livestock and irrigated fields. A small population in Egypt is resident year‑round.
Altitude Range
0–3000 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This small wagtail is famous for its constantly bobbing tail and bright yellow underparts. It has numerous subspecies with strikingly different head patterns, ranging from blue‑grey to black, which can make identification challenging. Often seen following cattle or tractors to pick off disturbed insects, it is a characteristic bird of open, wet grasslands. It nests on the ground in concealed sites among vegetation.
Temperament
active and alert
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with bounding, low undulating flight
Social Behavior
Typically seen in pairs during the breeding season, nesting on the ground in dense grasses or low vegetation near water. Outside the breeding season it forms flocks, often mixed with other wagtails and pipits, and roosts communally in reedbeds. Pairs are generally monogamous within a season. Displays include tail‑wagging and fluttering song flights.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
Song is a simple, thin series of high, tinkling phrases delivered from a perch or during short display flights. The common call is a sharp, high ‘tsip/tslee’ often given in flight. Vocalizations carry well over open fields and marshes.
Plumage
Sleek, slender wagtail with bright yellow underparts and olive‑green to greyish upperparts; head pattern varies by subspecies. Long blackish tail with conspicuous white outer tail feathers. Fine, pointed bill and relatively long legs give it a delicate, upright stance.
Diet
Primarily feeds on flying and ground-dwelling insects such as flies, midges, beetles, ants, and moths, as well as spiders and other small invertebrates. It actively runs and picks prey from the ground, vegetation, and shallow water edges. It frequently sallies after airborne insects and capitalizes on insects flushed by livestock or agricultural machinery. Seeds are taken only occasionally.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in open, damp habitats including wet meadows, marsh margins, muddy banks, rice fields, and grazed pastures. Often forages close to water and around herds of cattle or horses where insect activity is high.
