Pipits and Wagtails (Motacillidae)
Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola)
French: Bergeronnette citrine German: Zitronenstelze Spanish: Lavandera Cetrina
Other common names: Yellow-headed/Yellow-hooded Wagtail
Taxonomy:
Motacilla citreola Pallas, 1776, Siberia.
Has been thought to form a superspecies with M. flava, or with that species together with M. capensis and M. flaviventris, but such relationships not supported by recent molecular-genetic studies. Recent research, using mitochondrial DNA, suggests that W race werae may represent a separate species, closer to SE Asian races of M. flava and distinct from nominate E race, which appears closer to NE races of latter; others, however, consider werae to be morphologically and vocally inseparable from nominate. Further study needed. Races intergrade. Proposed.. View all taxonomy...
Has been thought to form a superspecies with M. flava, or with that species together with M. capensis and M. flaviventris, but such relationships not supported by recent molecular-genetic studies. Recent research, using mitochondrial DNA, suggests that W race werae may represent a separate species, closer to SE Asian races of M. flava and distinct from nominate E race, which appears closer to NE races of latter; others, however, consider werae to be morphologically and vocally inseparable from nominate. Further study needed. Races intergrade. Proposed race quassitrix (described from S Russian Altai) considered indistinguishable from nominate, and sindzianicus (N Xinjiang, in NW China) from werae; weigoldi (from N Sichuan, in C China) synonymized with calcarata. Three subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- citreola Pallas, 1776 - breeds N Europe (Finland, N Russia) E to C Siberia, Transbaikalia, Mongolia and NW Manchuria; winters mainly Indian Subcontinent, also SE Asia.
- werae (Buturlin, 1907) - breeds E Europe (S Baltic Republics, E Poland), Belarus and Ukraine E to Russian Altai, N & E Kazakhstan and NW China (NW Xinjiang); winters Indian Subcontinent and SE Asia.
- calcarata Hodgson, 1836 - breeds E Iran, Afghanistan, and C Asian mountains from Tien Shan E to C China (E to C Gansu and Sichuan) and S to N Himalayas; winters lowlands from S Afghanistan E to Myanmar.
- Least Concern
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A female plumaged bird standing on the top of a pole Gonghe, Qinghai, China (Northern)
John Gregory 28 July 2002 2 years ago 8 sec 4.2 -
A male in breeding plumage in a paddyfield Heimahe, Qinghai, China (Northern) (calcarata)
Josep del Hoyo 27 July 2002 3 years ago 21 sec 4.2 -
An adult male calling several times Gonghe, Qinghai, China (Northern) (calcarata)
John Gregory 28 July 2002 2 years ago 16 sec 4.1 -
A full breeding plumage male "walking" on seaweed and water. Kendirli village, Mangystau Province, Kazakhstan (citroela)
Christophe Gouraud 3 April 2009 19 weeks ago 14 sec 3.8 -
A female plumaged bird perched and flying away Gonghe, Qinghai, China (Northern)
John Gregory 28 July 2002 2 years ago 6 sec 3.6 -
juvenile foraging Makhindjauri, Batumi, Adjara Autonomous Republic, Georgia
Jan Timmer 22 August 2009 10 weeks ago 17 sec 3
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An adult male flying above the beach. Kendirli village, Mangystau Province, Kazakhstan (citroela)
Christophe Gouraud 3 April 2009 18 weeks ago 3.3 -
A winter migrant Tamil Nadu, India (citreola)
vasanthan.p.j 8 January 2010 4 weeks ago ADDED LAST MONTH 3 -
A winter migrant Tamil Nadu, India (citreola)
vasanthan.p.j 8 January 2010 4 weeks ago ADDED LAST MONTH 3 -
An adult female foraging. Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (citroela)
Christophe Gouraud 19 March 2009 18 weeks ago 3 -
An adult male foraging. Kendirli village, Mangystau Province, Kazakhstan (citroela)
Christophe Gouraud 3 April 2009 18 weeks ago 3 -
A bird perched on a bush. Eilat, Israel
Laurent Demongin 24 October 2005 1 year ago 3
- No sound recordings available yet
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