For details point at or click the
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Passeriformes
Family:
Motacillidae
BTO Codes:
YW, YELWA
EURING No:
10170
Number in Britain:
19 thousand territories (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
RED
European:
Not a species of concern
Global:
Least Concern
Links to: Images
Videos
Sound
Status in UK:
(A) Migrant Breeder, Passage Visitor
Subspecies:
flavissima flava (P), cinereocapilla (V), beema (V), thunbergi (P) (X), simillima (V) recorded in Britain (of 17 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
17 cm
Wingspan:
25 cm
Weight:
M/F: 18 g
Scientific name from:
Gr.: muttex a bird described by Hesychius
and L.: flavus =yellow
World Distribution:
BREEDS: Eurasia, n Africa, Alaska, WINTERS south to s Africa, n Australia
Habitat:
Damp meadows, marsh, riverbanks
Diet:
Small invertebrates from ground or flycatching, often near livestock
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
Regional Trends:
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
12 to 27 thousand territories
in 2000
Note: Best estimate
First Record:
c. 1600
[Fossil evidence from
Devensian (last) glaciation, 10-120,000 yr ago]
Conservation Status:
RED
because
Recent Breeding Population Decline,
Previous Assessments:
2002-2007
AMBER
1996-2001
GREEN
Races of Concern:
flavissima RED (Recent Decline) , flava AMBER (Rare or Localised) , thunbergi AMBER (Europe
an Concern)
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
Most frequent in:
Arable Farmland, Estuaries
Also common in:
Along Streams
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
Average Day of First Arrival:
7 Apr
European Population Size:
Summer:
3.9 to 7 million pairs
(Trend in Numbers )
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
Bern(III)
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
19 x 14 mm
Egg Weight:
1.8 g (of which 6 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
14
(more would be welcome!)
Clutch Size:
5 - 6 eggs
5.24 ± 0.88 (3 - 7) N = 178
Incubation:
14 days
13.59 ± 1.27 (11 - 16.5) N = 178
by the:
Female
Fledging:
13 - 15days
13.94 ± 1.21 (12 - 15.5) N = 425
as:
Altricial, downy
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid:
24 May (7 May - 3 Jul)
Number of Broods:
1-2
Trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed:
572
Adult Survival:
0.533
± 0.031
Juvenile Survival:
0.463 (in First-Year)
Age at First Breeding:
1
year
Typical Lifespan:
3
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
8yr 8m
Biometrics
Ring Size:
A
Wing Length
Adult:
81.6 ± 3.0
Range
76 - 86 mm, N =295
Juvenile:
81.2 ± 2.6
77 - 85 mm, N =999
Male:
82.8 ± 2.5
79 - 86 mm, N =176
Female:
79.3 ± 2.8
75 - 84 mm, N =82
Weight
Adult:
17.55 ± 1.70
Range
15.30 - 20.40 g , N =270
Juvenile:
17.89 ± 1.69
15.50 - 21.00 g , N =869
Male:
17.71 ± 1.48
15.50 - 19.90 g , N =159
Female:
16.94 ± 1.78 .
15.00 - 21.30 g , N =77
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Gaelic:
Breacan-buidhe
Welsh:
Siglen Felen
Danish:
Gul vipstjert
Dutch:
Gele kwikstaart
Finnish:
Keltavästäräkki
French:
Bergeronnette printanière
German:
Schafstelze
Hungarian:
Sárga billegeto
Icelandic:
Gulerla
Irish:
Glasóg Bhuí
Italian:
Cutrettola
Norwegian:
Gulerle
Polish:
Pliszka zólta
Portuguese:
Alvéola-amarela
Spanish:
Lavandera boyera
Swedish:
Gulärla
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Smith, S. 1950 The yellow wagtail Collins, London
[598.861 SMI]
See Also:
Gough, G.A. et al. (1998) Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter
BirdFacts home | BTO Home birdfacts@bto.org These data should be cited as:
© British Trust for Ornithology, | Privacy Statement
button; for sources point at the 
button
Other Names
