Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flava

Also known as:Eastern Yellow Wagtail

Explore this bird

Identification

17 cm (6-7") Uncommon. Western Alaska. Arctic tundra, willow thickets.

Greenish-gray upperparts. Yellow below. White eyebrow stripe. Long black tail with white edges. Wags tail.

In flight; undulating.

Details in the field

4 photos

Watch and learn

2 videos

Yellow Wagtails - Motacilla flava dombrowskii

Credit: Ron Jackson

Schafstelze - Yellow Wagtail - Motacilla flava

Credit: Andreas Gruber

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 1 rule

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

1 rule

Rule 1 15 criteria confidence 4

What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light outer edge or corners · Unknown
Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Yellow · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Spotted or mottled · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northwestern Canada or United States

result:756-yellow-wagtail:1:1 Source: 756 Yellow Wagtail, row 1