Scientific name: Motacilla flava Linnaeus, 1758
Bird group: Wagtails
Field characters. 16.5 cm. Several subspecies within region and especially males differ markedly in plumage. Male of nominate flava recognised by grey head with white supercilium, green-toned back and bright yellow underparts. Tail black with white edges, long but much shorter than in Grey Wagtail. Female has greenish head with narrower white supercilium and usually less yellow on underparts, especially on throat and upper breast. Male of Scandinavian subspecies thunbergi has black ear-coverts and dark grey, almost black head. British subspecies flavissima without dark colouring on head, or sometimes only some green on crown, with prominent yellow supercilium. Spanish subspecies iberiae with white instead of yellow throat, grey crown, dark ear-coverts, and with white supercilium extending only behind eye. Italian subspecies cinereocapilla with more contrast between grey crown and almost black ear-coverts than thunbergi and with completely white throat. Balkan subspecies feldegg with completely black head. More subspecies occur east of region and subspecific recognition often difficult because of 'hybridisation' and intergrades. Females hard to separate. Habits as in other wagtails. Roost communally outside breeding season.
Voice. Call 'tsee' or 'tsree', often with slight difference between subspecies. Song composed of calls.
Distribution. Quite common summer visitor.
Habitat. Variety of habitats, like meadows, marshes, river sides, arable fields, etc., preferably near water. During migration and in winter favours drier, steppe-like habitats.
Food. Mainly invertebrates, taken on ground while walking or running or after short aerial pursuit.