Citrine Wagtail

Motacilla citreola

Introduction

Resembling a cross between a Yellow and White Wagtail, the frequency of records of this scarce visitor from Asia is increasing as its native range extends westwards.

Most records come from the autumn, August to October, but there are some spring records.

Key Stats

Status

Rare

Weight

21.5g

Seasonality

<1%

BTO Records

1.8k records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

No current data

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

Species of European Conservation Concern

Least Concern

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Fair Isle, 1954

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

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This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Breeding Distribution for Citrine Wagtail

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Distribution Change

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Seasonality

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Citrine Wagtail is a rare migrant with records of adults in mid-spring and mostly juveniles in early autumn.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Citrine Wagtail movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

Dots show the foreign destinations of birds ringed in Britain & Ireland, and the origins of birds ringed overseas that were subsequently recaptured, resighted or found dead in Britain & Ireland. Dot colours indicate the time of year that the species was present at the location.

Winter (Nov-Feb)
Spring (Mar-Apr)
Summer (May-Jul)
Autumn (Aug-Oct)

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Citrine Wagtail, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Citrine Wagtail

Classification and Codes

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Order: Passeriformes
Family: Motacillidae
Scientific name: Motacilla citreola
Authority: Pallas, 1776

BTO 2-letter code: IZ
BTO 5-letter code: CITWA
Euring code number: 10180

Alternate species names

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Catalan: cuereta citrina
Czech: konipas citronový
Danish: Citronvipstjert
Dutch: Citroenkwikstaart
Estonian: kuldhänilane
Finnish: sitruunavästäräkki
French: Bergeronnette citrine

German: Zitronenstelze
Hungarian: citrombillegeto
Icelandic: Mýrerla
Irish: Glasóg Chiotrónach
Italian: Cutrettola testagialla orientale
Latvian: citroncielava
Lithuanian: geltongalve kiele
Norwegian: Sitronerle

Polish: pliszka cytrynowa
Portuguese: alvéola-citrina
Slovak: trasochvost žltohlavý
Slovenian: citronasta pastirica
Spanish: Lavandera cetrina
Swedish: citronärla
Welsh: Siglen Sitraidd

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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