| |
 |
 |
|
Yellow
Wagtails
»
Length: 5.5 inches
»
Slender bill
»
Yellow underparts
»
Olive back
»
Dark wings with some white edges
»
White supercilium
»
Gray head
»
Black tail with white outer tail feathers
»
Dark legs
»
Sexes similar
»
Juveniles have duller plumage, paler underparts and
dark malar streaks connecting across the upper breast
»
Breeds in Alaska
|
|
All wagtails are dainty, delicate birds but the yellow is the most
graceful of them all. When spring-time parties appear in the marshes
the males are wonderfully brilliant. Running nimbly within inches
of grazing cattle, their slight bodies are often hidden, but bright
colours, golden as dandelions, catch the eye. Then for no apparent
reason, birds rise suddenly and head for the nearest trees. After
perching a few moments, they drop back one by one into the marsh.
Here, with flirting tail and a to-and-fro motion of the head each
bird hunts insects disturbed by the stock. Depending on weather conditions,
large groups of spring migrant yellow wagtails may halt briefly on
the coast. I once chanced upon 80 at Salthouse. An hour later all
had departed westward. On another occasion between 400 and 500 were
seen briefly at Cley. Display flights between rival cocks occupy much
of the birds' time on the breeding grounds. You may see two males
dancing in the air with fluttering wings, pecking and clawing at each
other. Courtship ceremonies are delightful: the cock slowly circles
the hen with puffed-out breast feather, depressed wings and fanned
tail. At times he hangs suspended in the air, hovering with widely
spread tail. |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
| Bird rescue & bird adoption;
parrot refuge/rescue & placement for unwanted birds. |
 |
|
 |
| Check out our list of local
birds broken down by your state and different types of
species. |
|
|
 |
| Migrating birds stay on track
because of chemical reactions in their bodies that are
influenced by the Earth's magnetic field... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Part
I
November
19, 2004