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Levels of nesting site selection were identified: landscape level is related to birds’ choice of landscape with yellow, pink, white, and green aspects. Ecosystem level corresponds to the detection of a water body by birds. The birds detect a station with the necessary vegetation association, where grasses and meadow halophytic associations are the basis of vegetation. The local (point) level is caused by the presence of a necessary host plant, which is a protector of birds’ nests. The main signals for the selection of nesting conditions for yellow wagtails as a reflection of semiotics are (in order): landscape – habitats of predominantly yellow, less frequently pink, white and green aspects; ecosystem – proximity of a water body (river, lake, etc.); statistical – halophytic associations. The following aspects of the nesting habitats are considered: ecosystem – proximity to a water body (river, lake, etc.); statistical – halophytic vegetation and grasses on sandy loam, loamy, solonchak soils suitable for nesting holes; local (point) – presence of host plant to protect the nest. Birds select nesting habitats based on the availability of all available signals, which increases the possibility and success of colony formation. The manifestation of semiotics: yellow wagtails in the nesting habitat tend to lose their visibility and dissolve into the background of the biotope, which is a special adaptation against predator attack.

Abstract Background Field studies from 2011 onwards have demonstrated the presence of a breeding population of Yellow Wagtails (Motacilla flava) in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China that is phenotypically distinct from known subspecies occurring in Asia. Here we describe the plumages and vocalisations of this population and discuss its taxonomic status. Methods The analysis of plumage is based on field studies and photos available online. Recordings of vocalisations are compared with recordings from other Yellow Wagtail populations, and differences are analysed based on sonograms. Mitochondrial DNA from one individual is compared to other Yellow Wagtail taxa. Results Unlike M. flava subspecies breeding in or near Xinjiang, males in the studied population show a blue-grey head without prominent white supercilium, being most similar to the widely disjunct M. f. cinereocapilla. They differ from the similarly widely allopatric M. f. thunbergi, which might occur as a migrant or vagrant in Xinjiang, by on average cleaner yellow breast and more extensive white on the throat, and from the widely disjunct M. f. plexa and M. f. macronyx, which might also occur on migration in that area, by softer contact calls and slower pace of song. Females are similar to female M. f. feldegg in plumage. The mitochondrial ND2 tree shows the single sample from Xinjiang to be nested in the clade of western Yellow Wagtail taxa. Conclusion We discuss whether the Xinjiang breeding population could represent an intergrade between subspecies breeding nearby, or whether it is better regarded as a separate as yet unrecognized subspecies. We argue that the localization of its apparent range in relation to other subspecies along with fairly consistent male and female plumages suggest that it is more likely to represent an undescribed taxon, but conclude that more research is needed to firmly establish its status.

Background: Field studies from 2011 onwards have demonstrated the presence of a breeding population of Yellow Wagtails (Motacilla flava) in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China that is phenotypically distinct from known subspecies occurring in Asia. Here we describe the plumages and vocalisations of this population and discuss its taxonomic status. Methods: The analysis of plumage is based on field studies and photos available online. Recordings of vocalisations are compared with recordings from other Yellow Wagtail populations, and differences are analysed based on sonograms. Mitochondrial DNA from one individual is compared to other Yellow Wagtail taxa. Results: Unlike M. flava subspecies breeding in or near Xinjiang, males in the studied population show a blue-grey head without prominent white supercilium, being most similar to the widely disjunct M. f. cinereocapilla. They differ from the similarly widely allopatric M. f. thunbergi, which might occur as a migrant or vagrant in Xinjiang, by on average cleaner yellow breast and more extensive white on the throat, and from the widely disjunct M. f. plexa and M. f. macronyx, which might also occur on migration in that area, by softer contact calls and slower pace of song. Females are similar to female M. f. feldegg in plumage. The mitochondrial ND2 tree shows the single sample from Xinjiang to be nested in the clade of western Yellow Wagtail taxa. Conclusion: We discuss whether the Xinjiang breeding population could represent an intergrade between subspecies breeding nearby, or whether it is better regarded as a separate as yet unrecognized subspecies. We argue that the localization of its apparent range in relation to other subspecies along with fairly consistent male and female plumages suggest that it is more likely to represent an undescribed taxon, but conclude that more research is needed to firmly establish its status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analysed 25 conspecific egg ejection events from a large sample of nests (n = 762) of three passerine species. In two species, most of the events could not be explained by intraspecific brood parasitism or nest sanitation behaviour. At least some of these cases were behavioural responses to unfavourable weather conditions in the spring of 2017. We conclude that clutch size adjustment through egg ejection may be more widespread among passerines than previously thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava of the subspecies M f. iberiae found at East Lea, Filey,Yorkshire, on 22nd April 2015 has been accepted as the first record of this taxon for Britain. This account describes the observations, vocalisations and photographic evidence that contributed to the identification of this widely anticipated southern European overshoot, along with the circumstances of the record and an analysis of the occurrence in a wider context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood parasite infections have been shown to influence behavioural traits of their avian hosts, in particular activity level and boldness. Following the hypothesis that a mixed infection by different parasite species should have higher effects than single-species infections, we analysed activity and boldness in wild-caught Yellow Wagtails ( Motacilla flava L., 1758), a trans-Saharan migrant, during the energetically demanding spring migration. Eighty-five percent of the birds were naturally infected with Haemoproteus Kruse, 1890 or Plasmodium Marchiafava and Celli, 1885 (Sporozoa, Haemosporida) and 27% of individuals had parasites from both genera. No differences in activity were found among uninfected, single infection, and mixed infection groups. Birds with infections from both genera appeared to be more fearful when first introduced to a cage. These birds also tended to be less likely to approach a novel object compared with uninfected birds and birds infected by a single genus only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes BBRC's current approach to vagrant forms of the Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava in Britain, and includes examples of recent records from the Rarities Committee's files. Its purpose is to assist observers faced with putative vagrant Yellow Wagtails, helping them to focus on key features and to record sufficient information to confirm the identification. Potential aspects for further study that would enable improved understanding of the identification of these forms are also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenotypic and genotypic diversity of populations of species of the yellow wagtails in the space of their ranges in a wide sympatry reflects the mechanisms of reproductive isolation of species and forms of subspecies rank and features of microevolution group -- polytypic complex Motacilla flava Linnaeus, 1758. The distribution of species of the yellow wagtails in the European part of Russia is sympatric. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether sympatric settlement led to any genetic separation between the populations of these species. 20 blood samples and 2 samples of eggs collected in areas geographically representing the MID and the southern Russian breeding populations of these species, including all juvenile ringed in 2012, were used. After the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) 4 types of the yellow wagtails group Motacilla flava L., 1758; M. feldegg Michahelles, 1830; M. lutea (S. G. Gmelin, 1774); M. cilreola Pallas, 1776 (Passeriformes, Motacillidae) were sequenced. After aligning the sequences of the gene cytochrome oxidase I, based on the comparison of genetic distances between these species phylogenetic tree of genus Motacilla was constructed. These results suggest that, despite the broad sympatry in nesting places, there is a selective mating between males and females of each species studied in spite of the free crossing and insulating mechanisms in populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood samples of "yellow" wagtails collected in the areas geographically representing the Middle Volga breeding populations of these species were investigated. After isolation of mtDNA barkoding of studied "yellow" wagtails species was conducted. Amplification of the subunit of cytochrome oxidase I gene used as a genetic marker for the comparison of the samples was carried out. After sequencing and sequence alignment of gene cytochrome c-oxidase I, based on the comparison of genetic distances between individuals of the studied species using Jalview phylogenetic trees of populations of species Motacilla flava Linnaeus, 1758 and Motacilla citreola Pallas, 1776 were constructed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the documentation of the white-headed yellow wagtail (Motacilla flava leucocephala) during a study conducted on the migration of birds in Azerbaijan. Topics discussed include the characteristics of the bird, the breeding grounds of the bird in the northwest Mongolia and its adjacent regions, and the identical features of the observed bird with those from the breeding population in Mongolia.

Based on the long-term studies of the ecology of yellow wagtail in the Lower Ob region and the experimental results, factors determining the penetration of this species into the tundra of the Yamal Peninsula have been analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research on the putative segregation of two yellow wagtail taxa by breeding habitat in Western Siberia and its implications for Motacilla flava taxonomy. It references a study by H. Herman van Oosten and Alexander A. Emtsev, published in a 2013 issue of "Ardea." The researchers describe the breeding habitat of thunbergi and beema in European Russia and Western Siberia to determine whether breeding habitat could be an ecological factor for sub-specific segregation in such breeding range. They determined that large scale segregated breeding due to varied habitat preferences could impact taxonomic interpretations within the Motacilla flava complex.

The article presents a genetic analysis of the two accepted specimens of an eastern subspecies of Yellow Wagtail, Motacilla flava simillima, added to the British list, and a record of a putative eastern Yellow Wagtail trapped at Colyton, Devon in December 2010. The analysis showed that the 1912 Fair Isle bird, probably a British Yellow Wagtail M. f. flavissima was of western origin, while the 1909 Fair Isle and 2010 Devon birds were of eastern origin.

Blood parasites of migrating yellow wagtails of two subspecies- Motacilla flava feldegg and Motacilla flava flava-were studied on a sample of 473 birds caught in spring and autumn periods in Bulgaria. We controlled eight 'migration waves' (flocks captured in different evenings) of yellow wagtails for four parameters-average body mass, average fat level, average wing length, and average prevalence of different hematozoan species. Gametocytes or meronts of a total of six species of hematozoa belonging to three genera were identified- Haemoproteus motacillae, Haemoproteus anthi, Plasmodium relictum, Plasmodium subpraecox, Plasmodium cathemerium, and Tryponosoma avium. Mixed infections were detected in 31 cases, of which 14 were of H. anthi/ H. motacillae type. Parasite species composition was similar in the two studied subspecies of M. flava. We did not find any significant differences in the overall infection prevalence or number of infecting parasites between M. f. flava and M. f. feldegg. Parasite prevalence and the number of co-infecting parasites in spring were much higher than in fall. Season had a strong influence on the prevalence of H. anthi and H. motacillae, and for both, there was a marginally significant interaction between subspecies and season, but not a season-independent influence of subspecies. Males of M. f. feldegg had a significantly higher overall blood parasite prevalence and prevalence of H. anthi than females. Sex-related differences in the prevalence of other parasites were not significant. Migration waves of yellow wagtails differed in overall infection status and in H. motacillae prevalence, but not for H. anthi prevalence. We also found significant differences in fat score, weight, and wing length between the studied migration waves of the yellow wagtails. Fat scores of birds infected with different hematozoa were lower compared with those of the non-infected birds. This only marginally was true for body weight and was not the case for wing length. Overall, infected birds were in worse condition (estimated as the residual weight after regression with wing length) compared with the non-infected birds, but after controlling for seasonal effects, the differences in condition appeared to be due to migration season and did not significantly differ between infected and non-infected birds caught in the same season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a study which investigated site fidelity and natal philopatry in three passerine species within an isolated patch of suitable habitat in European North of Russia. Researchers analyzed five years of Russian banding data on Booted Warbler, Whinchat and Yellow Wagtail. They discovered that the survival rate of the Yellow Wagtail was higher than that of the Whinchat and Booted Warbler. The study concludes that species-specific returning rates and annual fluctuation are defined by mortality and reproductive success.

Human-induced habitat changes often generate novel or radically altered habitat characteristics, which can impair the ability of organisms to differentiate between suitable and unsuitable sites. This phenomenon, often termed an ecological trap, has been identified as a potential driver of biodiversity loss worldwide. However, few unequivocal examples have been documented, even in agricultural environments where contemporary habitat changes have been rapid and significant. Several problems complicate the detection of ecological traps in the field, including difficulties in measuring key parameters such as relative habitat preference. Here, we assess habitat selection preferences and breeding success of the yellow wagtail Motacilla flava, a UK red-listed declining passerine, in arable farmland. We combine habitat-specific density indices with measures of home range exclusivity to make inferences on relative habitat preference that are robust to the confounding effect of competitive exclusion. Using multiple measures of breeding success, we identify maladaptive habitat selection patterns at the scale of both territory and nest site choice. Yellow wagtails showed a preference for establishing territories within field bean crops, but subsequently suffered high nest predation rates. Similarly, pairs showed a preference for nesting close to tramlines within cereal fields, but nests further from tramlines achieved higher success due to lower predation rates. We found no evidence of competitive exclusion among neighbouring pairs, suggesting that density-based indices provided an accurate reflection of relative habitat preferences. Our findings highlight the potential role of maladaptive habitat selection in suppressing breeding success among farmland species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dutch farmland bird populations are in steep decline as a result of agricultural intensification. The Yellow Wagtail ( Motacilla flava flava) is one of those species, but its decrease has mainly occurred in grasslands, with its population in arable areas remaining more or less stable. In contrast, populations of other typical birds of arable habitats, such as the Skylark ( Alauda arvensis) and Grey Partridge ( Perdix perdix), are declining strongly in this habitat type. The favorable status of the Yellow Wagtail is probably caused by the crop-mosaic composition of arable farms in The Netherlands, which often includes winter cereals, potatoes, and sugar beet. This study focused on crop preference by the Yellow Wagtail during the breeding season. Early in the breeding season Yellow Wagtails showed a strong preference for winter cereals. However, as the breeding season progressed, their preference gradually shifted to broad-leaved crops, especially potatoes. Measurements of the crop structure as an indication for vegetation height or bare ground, revealed that the Yellow Wagtail strongly preferred crops 20-40 cm high. Higher crops were also used more than expected based on a uniform distribution, but to a lesser extent, and crops <20 cm in heigth were not preferred at all. In terms of ground coverage, Yellow Wagtails preferred crops providing a ground coverage of at least 60%. There was a negative association between Yellow Wagtail numbers and crops providing <20% ground coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first arrival dates for summer migrants in Cheshire and Wirral indicate a longer term trend towards earlier arrival since the mid 1970s, consistent with the findings of previous studies based on first arrival data from UK area bird reports. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of abundance and population change on the apparent advancement of arrival dates. Stronger apparent advancement in arrival was observed for species which have increased in numbers in the county over recent years, for example Hobby Falco subbuteo. Less common and declining species, such as Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur, Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava, Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix, Willow Warbler P. trochilus and Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata, showed some of the lowest rates of advancement. These observations can be interpreted in terms of the dependence of the first arrival date on the probability of detection of individuals, which is dependent on the level of abundance of a species as a whole, and hence on changes in abundance. Theoretical considerations indicate that changes in abundance are likely to have more of an impact on the apparent advancement rate of arrival for less abundant species than for more abundant ones. Such factors may in part explain the regional differences that have been observed in apparent advancement rates for some species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Major changes to the extent and quality of farmland habitats, brought by the intensification of agricultural practice, are thought to be the main factors driving declines in a suite of farmland bird species in Europe. Recent changes in agricultural techniques have also contributed to widespread soil degradation, arising from increased soil exposure to erosion forces, declining soil organic content and increasing soil compaction. Although soils have a fundamental influence on ecosystem properties, the implications of soil degradation for farmland biodiversity have received little attention. In this study, we measure the influence of soil conditions on the distribution of a declining insectivorous farmland bird, the yellow wagtail Motacilla flava, relative to other habitat features in arable fields. Soil penetrability was found to have a significant influence on the abundance of territorial yellow wagtails at the field scale, together with crop type. Other measured habitat features had little effect on territory abundance, including soil organic content, crop height (within preferred crop types), field boundary habitats and availability of bare ground. Monitoring of invertebrate abundance across 20 cereal fields revealed a significant influence of both soil penetrability and soil organic content on aerial invertebrate capture rates. This relationship was strongest during the latter part of the breeding season, implying that settling yellow wagtails could use soil penetrability as a predictive indicator of prey abundance during the chick-rearing period. The strong relationship between yellow wagtails and soil penetrability suggests a potential causative link between soil degradation and population decline. The role of soils in determining abundance patterns and population declines of other farmland species may have been overlooked in previous studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Data on the breeding success of two crop-nesting passerines, Skylark Alauda arvensis and Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava, were collected in relation to linear features within and surrounding arable crops. Both species were found to experience high rates of nest predation with increased proximity to field boundaries, although the exact nature of the relationship differed with species and, in the case of Skylark, with boundary type. Most nest losses were attributable to predation. During 2006 video cameras deployed on Skylark nests showed that all recorded predation was by mammals of various species, and that these were most active in or around grass margins. The results suggest that further research is needed into ways of minimizing negative impacts of predation on Skylarks. Possible solutions discussed include concentrating Skylark Plots in the field centres away from grass margins and promoting Skylark Plots in fields without grass margins in future agri-environmental schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We quantified demographic parameters of Eastern Yellow Wagtails (Motacilla tschutschensis) breeding at Cape Romanzof, Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska. We monitored 79 nests in an 837-ha area during 1997 1999 and banded 160 individuals. Mayfield nest success differed among years and ranged from 0.14 to 0.63/year. Most nest failures were attributed to predation, Annual fecundity (mean number of fledglings/female) ranged from 0.7 to 3,7. At least 8.8% of nests had polygynous males; females paired with polygynous males had the same fecundity as monogamous females. Forty two to 100% of the breeding males returned the following year, usually to the same territory while no adult females returned. Four nestlings banded in the study area returned to nest the following year. The best model for annual survival accounted far differences between both age groups and years. The demography of Eastern Yellow Wagtails al Cape Romanzof varied and was characterized by relatively high adult male survival and site fidelity, female-biased dispersal, and weak natal philopatry. The absence of returning females is significant and possible differences in migration stopovers and wintering locations should be investigated. Moderate levels of male immigration may be necessary in periodic pulses to maintain a local population, but female immigration would need to be massive and sustained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leap-frog migration may be caused by a surge in food availability late in the pre-nuptial migration period, in parts of the wintering grounds most distant from the breeding area. Birds breeding at the highest latitudes are the latest to depart on pre- nuptial migration, and so can take advantage of this surge by extending their post-nuptial migration to pass the winter in the most distant wintering areas. Such populations should fatten more quickly prior to migration than low-latitude breeders, which migrate earlier in the year and winter closer to the breeding area. In April 2004, I conducted a pilot study into the feasibility of comparing fattening rates ahead of pre-nuptial migration among populations of a leap-frog migrant, the Yellow Wagtail, at different latitudes in Nigeria. A population in central Nigeria was estimated to be fattening at up to 0.47g d-1, which is greater than estimates obtained from data collected at a site in northern Nigeria. More northerly breeding populations wintering in central Nigeria may therefore be able to add sufficient fat to cross the Sahara up to 7.5d more quickly than would be possible if they remained in northern Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract We analyse patterns of genetic diversity and song complexity in the Palaearctic yellow wagtail (Motacilla flava), a highly polytypic species complex. Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA show that the complex is polyphyletic, despite parallel plumage variation in western and eastern clades. In the western clade there is genetic structure among southern subspecies, haplotype diversity decreases with latitude, and northern subspecies show evidence of bottlenecking and rapid expansions, as expected from isolation in glacial refugia followed by postglacial colonization. However, northern subspecies, which have more divergent male plumages, lack genetic structure and sing simpler songs. Loss of song complexity and evolution of plumage in founder populations are consistent with the Kaneshiro model, which posits that variation among species is a consequence of founder-induced shifts in female preference leading to loss of ancestral male sexual traits. Our results suggest possible postglacial founder-effect mechanisms for the morhological diversification of the yellow wagtail complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted phylogeographic analyses of Motacilla flava (Yellow Wagtail) and M. citreola (Citrine Wagtail). We analyzed mitochondrial DNA sequences from 167 M. flava specimens obtained from 17 localities throughout Eurasia and Alaska, and 38 specimens of M. citreola obtained from 7 Eurasian localities. Phylogenetic analysis revealed three clades within traditionally recognized M. flava: Europe and southwestern Asia, northeastern Eurasia, and southeastern Asia. Those groups should be considered species, because together they are not monophyletic, and are interspersed with M. citreola, M. cinerea, and M. alba. Motacilla citreola also is paraphyletic, consisting of two species-level groups. Northeastern and southeastern groups of M. flava each appear to be sister taxa to eastern and western groups of M. citreola, respectively. Together those four groups form a clade, whereas the western M. flava group is considerably more distant Within each of the three groups of M. flava, and the two groups of M. citreola, little phylogeographic structure was detected. Signatures of past population expansion are evident for some populations of M. flava; expansion is more recent in Moscow, Kursk (western group), Yamal, and Anabar (northeastern group), and older in Tyva and Vyatka (western group). A history of population stability is inferred for the Yamal population of M. citreola. Nested-clade analyses detected contiguous range expansion for southeastern M. flava and restricted gene flow with isolation by distance for northeastern M. flava and eastern M. citreola. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the 35th report of the British Ornithologists' Union (BOU) on various developments related to ornithology covering from October 2006 to April 2007 in Great Britain. This discloses an overview on several research about birds including the reassessment of subsequent records about Spotted Sandpiper, the breeding of Long-billed Murrelet and Yellow Wagtail. On the other hand, information on the inaugural meeting of the Category F Sub-committee (CFSC) held at The Natural History Museum in the country on January 18, 2007 is presented. Furthermore, a review on the English names of birds used by the BOU by the International Ornithological Congress (IOC) is revealed.

Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever virus RNA was detected in immature Hyalomma rufipes ticks infesting northward migratory birds caught in the North Mediterranean Basin. This finding suggests a role for birds in the ecology of the Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever virus and a potential mechanism for dissemination to novel regions. Increased surveillance is warranted.

The article explores a possible pitfall in the identification of Citrine and Yellow Wagtails. An individual heard what he thought was a Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava calling on September 10, 2005. A description of the Inner Farne bird was submitted to the Northumberland and Tyneside Bird Club and was assessed, but the local committee believed that a Yellow Wagtail with a Citrine-like call could not be fully excluded and the record was not accepted. It is noted that further observations by birders would help to clarify identification issues.