Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava 西黃鶺鴒
Accidental.
IDENTIFICATION
Mar. 2019, Michelle and Peter Wong. Male M. f. leucocephala
16-17 cm. Slightly slimmer and shorter-tailed than White Wagtail, with a less undulating flight. In breeding plumage males have greenish upperparts, yellow underparts and a head pattern that varies widely according to subspecies; they are generally brighter and better marked than females. The subspecies recorded in HK was M. f. leucocephala, which is distinguished by its whitish head that has a pale grey wash on ear-coverts, sides of rear crown and nape, though the pattern is highly variable (Alström et al. (2003). First-winter birds are similar to the adult female but have whiter and more distinct tips to the wing coverts.
VOCALISATIONS
The typical flight call is slightly less harsh and marginally more drawn out than that of Eastern Yellow Wagtail.
DISTRIBUTION & HABITAT PREFERENCE
The sole record occurred in the fish pond area at Lut Chau.
OCCURRENCE
The sole record occurred at Lut Chau from 28 March to 13 April (Ying 2023).
BEHAVIOUR, FORAGING & DIET
Appeared very similar to that of Eastern Yellow Wagtail.
RANGE & SYSTEMATICS
Breeds from western Europe east through the Palearctic as far east as northern Siberia in the north and northwest China in the south. The subspecies leucocephala breeds in northwest Mongolia, adjacent Siberia and northern Xinjiang, China, and winters in India (Alström et al. 2003).
CONSERVATION STATUS
IUCN: Least Concern. Population trend decreasing.
Alström, P., K. Mild and B. Zetterström (2003). Pipits and Wagtails of Europe, Asia and North America. Christopher Helm, London.
Ying, H. K. (2023). Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava subspecies leucocephala at Lut Chau. The first Hong Kong record. Hong Kong Bird Report 2019: 265-267.
