yellow wagtail - eastern genes ? (1 Viewer)

[Michał Jaro]

Hello, this is a bird, found in May, south Poland. It was in a flock of grey-headed wagtails (majority of males looks like) . I wonder this white head, breast, whitish underparts, contrasting with the gray top. Can flava look like this in spring?

 

[Deb Burhinus]

Why not a female flava?

 

[Michał Jaro]

Why not? I just don't know exactly why. However, gray-white birds (first year) are described as possible eastern.
I don't have a detailed guide, but there are materials on the web. Anyway, I've never seen such a "snow-white" head and such a gray top, especially since it is the beginning of May.
Example:
https://www.researchgate.net/public...ls_in_Europe_identification_and_vocalisations.
However, I do not know if I interpret it correctly.
Of course, I do not mean certainty - I know that you need a call. But the point is, if such a bird can be suspected in the direction of "eastern"?

 

[rosbifs]

Doesn’t the yellow coloring exclude eastern?

 

[Michał Jaro]

Based on what I read in the net - no. But I just need some advice because my knowledge may be partial.

 

[dwatsonbirder]

Why not a female flava?

Seems the most likely option. It's a non-starter for me based on my own (admittedly rather limited) experience with EYW in Asia, and wouldn't take a second glance if I saw it in continental Europe - in fact I saw two birds paler than this in a single flock in the UK this spring. With a recording of the call, analysis of sonogram and clear images of the hind claw, you may have a better response.

 

[Michał Jaro]

Ok thanks a lot for your help. I will just notice, that it is not only a pale bottom but also a fairly uniform gray top. I understand that these colours are good for searching eastern yw, but - with a microphone and good zoom