Yellow Wagtail, 10/24/2012

Yellow Wagtail is categorized as common wintering bird in Taiwan. They often appear in great numbers, but spreading out eating alone, on grasslands near wetlands. You can see and hear them crying in many wetlands and riverside parks in Taipei area, including Wugu Wetland and Huajiang Wild Duck Nature Park. They migrate to Taiwan from north in Autumn, return to north in Spring, and disappear totally in Summer. There are mainly two sub-species in Taiwan. One is taivana sub-species which bears a yellow eyebrow, and the other one is simillima sub-species which bears a white eyebrow. Other sub-species rarely appear in Taiwan, and are all categorized as disoriented or vagrant birds.



taken at Huajiang Wild Duck Nature Park, on 10/24/2012



taken at Huajiang Wild Duck Nature Park, on 10/24/2012



taken at Huajiang Wild Duck Nature Park, on 10/24/2012



taken at Wugu Wetland, on 3/17/2012



taken at Wugu Wetland, on 12/18/2011



taken at Wugu Wetland, on 12/18/2011



the taivana sub-species video recorded on 3/17/2012



the simillima sub-species video recorded on 12/18/2011



the taivana sub-species video recorded on 12/18/2011

Chinese name:	黃鶺鴒
English name:	Yellow Wagtail, Western Yellow Wagtail
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Motacilla flava
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Motacillidae
Species status:	According to Encyclopedia in Taiwan: [ There are mainly two sub-species in Taiwan. One is taivana sub-species which bears a yellow eyebrow, and the other one is simillima sub-species which bears a white eyebrow. Other sub-species could appear in Taiwan also, but all are categorized as disoriented or vagrant birds. ] -- web site http://taiwanpedia.culture.tw/web/content?ID=10902
Conservation status:	Least Concern
Migration status:	Winter migratory bird in Taiwan
Frequency of appearance:	Common in Taiwan
Foods:	Insects, seeds
Habitat:	Wetlands
Altitude:	Low to high altitude
Behavior:	Often appear in great numbers, but spreading out eating alone, on grasslands near wetlands. They would constantly flap their tail up and down. They fly in an up-and-down way, not straight forward.
Characteristics:	General Characteristics: According to Encyclopedia in Taiwan: [ About 17 cm long. Bill and feet are black.] -- web site http://taiwanpedia.culture.tw/web/content?ID=10902 Summer plumage for taivana sub-species: According to Encyclopedia in Taiwan: [ Head, neck, face and back are yellowish green. Eyebrow stripe is wide and clear. Wing is grayish black with white edges....Yellow runs from throat down to belly. Tail is black with both side tails white. ] Winter plumage for taivana sub-species: According to Encyclopedia in Taiwan: [ All the yellow parts are replaced by light and grayish yellow. All the green parts are replaced by brown. ] Sub-adult plumage for taivana sub-species: According to Encyclopedia in Taiwan: [ The sub-adult is mostly like the winter plumage of adults....The lower part of the belly is grayish white. ] Summer plumage for simillima sub-species: According to Encyclopedia in Taiwan: [ It's mostly like the taivana sub-species, but head and cheek are dark gray. Eyebrow is white and is narrower. ] Winter plumage for simillima sub-species: According to Encyclopedia in Taiwan: [ It's mostly like the taivana sub-species, but the whole body bears no yellow at all. Throat is whiter....Eyebrow is white. ] Sub-adult plumage for simillima sub-species: Similar species:
Breeding places:	There are many sub-species in the world, mostly breeding in Europe, high altitude areas in northern Asia and coastal areas of Alaska.
Migration destinations:	For European sub-species, they winter in central and southern Africa, part of northern Africa, and lower altitude areas in western Asia. For Asian and Alaskan sub-species, they winter in Indian Sub-continent, Southeast Asia, Indo-Pacific Islands or the coastal areas of northern Australia.
Time photographed:	12/18/2011, 3/17/2012, 10/24/2012
Location found:	Huajiang Wild Duck Nature Park of Taipei City, and Wugu Wetland of New Taipei City, Taiwan
Sources:	Internet
Notes: