Motacillidae – Pipits and Wagtails

>> GENERAL >>>>>

– small passerine, slightly smaller than a House Sparrow
– diurnal migrant, rarely nocturnal
– migrates singly or in small to medium rather dense flocks

>> VISUAL ID >>>>>

Meadow Pipit Anthus p. pratensis
BIF3496, 03/04/2021, Wagbachniederung, Germany, Mathias Putze

Meadow Pipit Anthus p. pratensis
BIF3497, 03/04/2021, Wagbachniederung, Germany, Mathias Putze

Meadow Pipit Anthus p. pratensis
BIF0842, 14/03/2014, Havelland, Germany, Mathias Putze

Meadow Pipit Anthus p. pratensis
BIF0843, 14/03/2014, Havelland, Germany, Mathias Putze

Meadow Pipit Anthus p. pratensis
BIF0844, 14/03/2014, Havelland, Germany, Mathias Putze

Meadow Pipit Anthus p. pratensis
BIF0141, 13/09/2013, Emden, Germany, Mathias Putze

Meadow Pipit Anthus p. pratensis
BIF0142, 13/09/2013, Emden, Germany, Mathias Putze

Meadow Pipit Anthus p. pratensis
BIF0348, 13/09/2013, Emden, Germany, Mathias Putze

Meadow Pipit Anthus p. pratensis
BIF0349, 13/09/2013, Emden, Germany, Mathias Putze

Meadow Pipit Anthus p. pratensis
BIF0350, 13/09/2013, Emden, Germany, Mathias Putze

>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>

Meadow Pipit Anthus p. pratensis, calls during migration
BIF0131, 24/10/2008, Greifswalder Oie, Germany, Patrick Franke

Meadow Pipit Anthus p. pratensis, calls during migration
BIF0139, 03/10/2010, Helgoland, Germany, Patrick Franke

Meadow Pipit Anthus p. pratensis, calls during migration
BIF0140, 05/04/2011, Kyzyltan Lake, Kazakhstan, Patrick Franke

>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>

Tree Pipit

#songbird #passerine #vagrant #rarity

#ornithology #birdmigration #birdID #birdguide #birding #birdwatching #birdsound #westernpalearctic #europe #vismig #flightcalls #middleeast #northernafrica #workinprogress

>> GENERAL >>>>>

– sparrow-sized passerine
– mainly diurnal migrant, to lesser extent nocturnal
– migrates singly or in small flocks

>> VISUAL ID >>>>>

Citrine Wagtail Motacilla c. citreola, M AD
BIF0006, 02/06/2011, Dornod, Mongolia, Mathias Putze

Citrine Wagtail Motacilla c. citreola, F AD
BIF0091, 16/05/2011, Dornod, Mongolia, Mathias Putze

Citrine Wagtail Motacilla c. citreola, M AD
BIF0357, 10/06/2014, Dornod, Mongolia, Mathias Putze

Citrine Wagtail Motacilla c. citreola, M AD
BIF3314, 10/06/2014, Dornod, Mongolia, Mathias Putze

Citrine Wagtail Motacilla c. citreola, M AD
BIF3315, 10/06/2014, Dornod, Mongolia, Mathias Putze

Citrine Wagtail Motacilla c. citreola, M AD
BIF3316, 10/06/2014, Dornod, Mongolia, Mathias Putze

>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>

– very vocal
– typical yellow wagtail-like overslur
– frequency range is 2-7,5 kHz
– the descending second part is broadly modulated what gives the call a rasping quality
– both ssp. can be separated by sound (WIELSTRA ET AL.)
– very similar to ssp. thunbergii and macronyx of the yellow wagtail complex

– overview –

– detail –

Citrine Wagtail Motacilla c. citreola, M AD, calls in flight
BIF0092, 07/04/2011, Kocsu, Kazakhstan, Patrick Franke

– overview –

– detail –
Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta blakistoni, calls in flight
Citrine Wagtail Motacilla c. citreola, F AD, calls in flight
BIF3337, 05/04/2011, Lake Kyzyltan, Kazakhstan, Patrick Franke

Citrine Wagtail Motacilla c. citreola, calls in flight
BIF3338, 25/04/2011, Stary Talap, Kazakhstan, Patrick Franke

– overview –

– detail –
Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola werae, calls in flight
BIF3339, 18/09/2019, Batumi, Georgia, Patrick Franke

>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>

Western Yellow Wagtail (v) (a)
Eastern Yellow Wagtail (v) (a)
Grey Wagtail (v)
White Wagtail (v)

References:
Wielstra M., Thijs Fijen, Rob van Bemmelen, Sam Gobin & Vincent van der Spek 2019, Citrine Wagtail calls – can ssp. be identified based on calls?, www.turnstones.org

#passerine #songbird

#ornithology #birdmigration #birdID #birdguide #birding #birdwatching #birdsound #westernpalearctic #europe #vismig #flightcalls #middleeast #northernafrica #workinprogress