Western yellow wagtail / Schafstelze (Motacilla flava)

Schafstelze Paar auf einem Feld mit Kühen, den schwarzen Kopf gibt's nur bei Unterart Feldegg. 2025-04-26 10:56:57 Bolle di Magadino

Observations

First documented observation: 2022-04-12 in Mallorca. Most recent observation: 2026-05-25 in La Sauge.

Description

Classification: Genus Motacilla (Motacilla); Family Motacillidae (Motacillidae)
General: Yellow, gray head, white mask.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-23 - 10-27
Breeding: 05-10 - 07-29
Migration in: 03-23 - 05-31
Migration out: 08-09 - 10-27
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=17 cm, wingspan=23-27 cm, weight=14-21 g
Habitats: Wetland

Similar species

Looks similar to: Tawny pipit.

Vocalisation

Song: Just a few notes, call seems to be common but song rare. Very short chirp of ~ 1 sec, long pause of 3 secs. At Wauwilermoos it seemed to be 'Twee tweetwee (higher note:) twee!'
Song: Song primitive and less striking. Beware differences in calls and songs between different subspecies. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic, slow, Frequency: 3-9 KHz
XC721189 - Western Yellow Wagtail - Motacilla flava cinereocapilla - song. ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC721189 - Western Yellow Wagtail - Motacilla flava cinereocapilla - song.mp3 (song)


Calls: Contact call characteristic and widely used; a sharp, drawn out "pseeeoo" with an accented ending falling in pitch. A variable phrase with two or three notes resembling the contact call in timbre. [Link] General: Single note repeated
Song: sperling ähnliches lh lh lh. Dachte die wären melodisch?? Nein. BL chirpy ml ml [Link]
XC653784 - Western Yellow Wagtail - Motacilla flava flavissima - call.

XC653784 - Western Yellow Wagtail - Motacilla flava flavissima - call. ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC653784 - Western Yellow Wagtail - Motacilla flava flavissima - call.mp3 (call)


Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 3-9 KHz, Special sounds: swoop.