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− | [[Image:Citrine_Wagtail.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Rajiv+Lather|Rajiv Lather}}<br /> | + | [[Image:Citrine_Wagtail.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Rajiv+Lather|Rajiv Lather}}<br /> Karnal, [[India]]]] |
;[[:Category:Motacilla|Motacilla]] citreola | ;[[:Category:Motacilla|Motacilla]] citreola | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
15.5-17 cm.<br /> | 15.5-17 cm.<br /> | ||
− | Two very noticeable white bars on wing coverts. | + | Two very noticeable white bars on wing coverts.<br /> |
'''Summer Male''': Lemon-yellow head, black hind collar and blue or slate-grey upperparts. Bright yellow below.<br /> | '''Summer Male''': Lemon-yellow head, black hind collar and blue or slate-grey upperparts. Bright yellow below.<br /> | ||
'''Adult Female''' and '''winter Male''' are much duller. | '''Adult Female''' and '''winter Male''' are much duller. | ||
Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
[[Yellow Wagtail]], which lacks the grey back. | [[Yellow Wagtail]], which lacks the grey back. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
− | [[Image:1162App0591.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|Pavlik|Pavlik}} | + | [[Image:1162App0591.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female<br />Photo by {{user|Pavlik|Pavlik}}<br />The Saratov area, [[Russia]], May 2004]] |
Citrine Wagtail has a '''breeding''' distribution from [[Russia]] through Siberia, and south to [[Iran]], [[Afghanistan]], [[India]], [[Tibet]], [[China]], and [[Myanmar]]. | Citrine Wagtail has a '''breeding''' distribution from [[Russia]] through Siberia, and south to [[Iran]], [[Afghanistan]], [[India]], [[Tibet]], [[China]], and [[Myanmar]]. | ||
Revision as of 19:03, 12 May 2009
- Motacilla citreola
Identification
15.5-17 cm.
Two very noticeable white bars on wing coverts.
Summer Male: Lemon-yellow head, black hind collar and blue or slate-grey upperparts. Bright yellow below.
Adult Female and winter Male are much duller.
Similar Species
Yellow Wagtail, which lacks the grey back.
Distribution
Citrine Wagtail has a breeding distribution from Russia through Siberia, and south to Iran, Afghanistan, India, Tibet, China, and Myanmar.
The species is migratory at least in parts of its range, and is a rare but regular guest to western Europe.
Accidental vagrant to the United States with one record in Mississippi.
Taxonomy
Generally speaking, citreola is a north-eastern subspecies, werae is south and west of that, and calcarata is south of both.
A recent paper by Pavlova et al. (2003) has proposed that Citrine wagtail should be split into two species, an eastern and a western part (see external link). The evidence came from DNA analysis and indicated that when an analysis included Yellow Wagtail, the two populations of Citrine wagtail were not each others closest relatives. This split is not at present accepted by many taxonomic authorities but if it were to become accepted, the western species (corresponding to current subspecies werae) would breed west and south of a line from a little east of the west end of Mongolia to the White Sea, while the eastern species (corresponding to citreola) would be confined to areas north and east of that line. The authors seemed not to sample the range of calcarata.
Habitat
Wet meadows, tundra, bogs.
Behaviour
Less inclined to bob the head or wag the tail than other wagtails.
Breeding
It is a ground nester and 4-5 speckled eggs are laid.
Diet
The diet includes insects.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Motacilla citreola (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
- Wikipedia
- Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
- Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6