Yellow Wagtail.
Budytes flavus
Probably the most numerous migrant from Europe, to be seen in all kinds of open ground that is not too arid.
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Yellow Wagtail. Budytes flavus Probably the most numerous migrant from Europe, to be seen in all kinds of open ground that is not too arid. |
| Recognition: Small. A slender bird with greenish upperparts and yellowish upperparts. The birds, especially the young, are rather drab on arrival but the males becomes very handsome before departure, having a greyish head with conspicuous white eye-brow. The tail-bobbing of wagtails is a valuable guide to idenitfy. Several, slightly different, races occur. |
| Distribution: Breeding in Europe, this species is found throughout West Africa from October to April, particularly in the south. |
| Habits: Strongly gregarious, flocks of a hundred are commonly seen, chiefly on closely cut grass but also in farms. When feeding the birds walk forward, all members of the flock tending to face the same way, and then a quick darting pounce is made on some small ground insect. As the time for departure approaches much time is spent preening while perching in trees or bushes and also on short flights. Breeding does not concern us. |
| Call: A sharp call of "Chizzit"made chiefly in flight. |
