  This species resembles the Yellow Wagtail very closely in all respects, and is the common Continental “Yellow Wagtail,” many different races of which are found. It occurs yearly in the south-east of England on migration and sometimes stays to breed. The adults may be distinguished from our Yellow Wagtail by having the upper part of the head and neck, including the cheeks, bluish grey and the stripe over the eye white. Young birds are practically indistinguishable from those of our common species, but the eye stripe is constantly whiter. Length 6·3 in.; wing 3·2 in. A closely allied race is M. beema, which breeds in Western Siberia and occurs on migration in India. It is very closely allied to M. flava, but is paler on the head and has the cheeks and chin white. This form has been taken in England on one occasion, viz. in Sussex, in April 1898. Faded and worn specimens of M. flava appear at first sight to belong to this form, so that excessive caution is necessary before finally identifying British specimens as belonging to this race. The Scandinavian form, known as M. borealis, with a dark grey crown and no eye stripe, has been obtained on several occasions, and even remained to breed in Sussex in 1906. BLUE-HEADED WAGTAIL M. cinereocephala, which has not yet been obtained in England, but breeds in South Europe from Italy eastwards, may be recognised from M. borealis by its rather darker head and cheeks and by having the entire throat white. Lastly, we have the Black-headed Wagtail, M. melanocephala, which inhabits South-eastern Europe and has a black head with hardly any trace of an eye stripe, and which was also obtained on the south coast in 1906. In this form the cheeks and under parts, including the chin, are bright yellow. |
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