Fun Citrine Wagtail Facts For Kids

Are you fond of small birds like the Eurasian tree sparrow? If yes, then you will like reading about a beautiful little songbird known as the citrine wagtail (Motacilla citreola). This bird has a yellow head and undersides which gives it the name ‘citrine’. This species belongs to the family Motacillidae and to the genus Motacilla. The population of this bird is spread over a huge range and it can usually be found in wet habitats like marshes. In the migration season, this bird may be found in a small group while it’s looking for food. Interestingly, during the breeding season, the male birds of this species grow a gray lore stripe on their head. Currently, this bird has a stable population, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has designated it the Least Concern status.Want to know more about this bird? Keep reading to learn interesting citrine wagtail facts. Also, check out the articles on white wagtail and cape wagtail to know about the family Motacillidae.

What do they prey on? Insects

What do they eat? Carnivore

Average litter size? 3-6 eggs

How much do they weigh? 0.6-0.8 oz (18–25 g)

How long are they? 6.4-7.8 in (16·5–20 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Yellow and gray

Skin Type Feathers

What were their main threats? Habitat Loss

What is their conservation status? Least Concern

Where you’ll find them? Marshes, Tundra, Meadows, Willow Thickets, Edges Of Lakes

Locations Europe, Central Palearctic (breeding)

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Motacilla

Class Aves

Family Motacillidae

Citrine Wagtail Interesting FactsWhat type of animal is a citrine wagtail?The citrine wagtail (Motacilla citreola) is a species of wagtails that is known for its bright yellow color.What class of animal does a citrine wagtail belong to?The citrine wagtail belongs to the class Aves, to the family Motacillidae, and to the genus Motacilla.How many citrine wagtails are there in the world?According to IUCN, the estimated population of this bird species is around 2,000,000-4,999,999 individuals and its population seems to be increasing making it a common bird. It’s also believed that a population of around 300,000 pairs breeds in European Russia.Where does a citrine wagtail live?The citrine wagtail (Motacilla citreola) is a bird that has a wide distribution when it comes to its living space, so it isn’t endemic to a single place. While in migration, the birds spend winter months in the Indian subcontinent as well as in Southeast Asia. Some populations have been found in Western Europe. While breeding, the birds can be found in the tundra of Russia as well as in some parts of Europe and Asia.What is a citrine wagtail’s habitat?You can find this bird moving through meadows and marshes. And, this species can also stay in the tundra. At times it can also be found in willow bushes, near village fields, or on the edges of ponds and lakes. These wet habitat regions are also preferred by these birds during migration.Who do citrine wagtails live with?You may find this bird species either on its own or in groups. A group of birds can often be seen during the winter when it migrates to warmer parts of the world.How long does a citrine wagtail live?The average lifespan range of the citrine wagtail is around two years, but some birds may manage to live a longer life.How do they reproduce?The breeding season of this bird may vary according to the geographical range, but April to August is the usual breeding range. These birds may often have two broods every year, and these are monogamous birds. Moreover, the parents can be a bit territorial about the nest which is usually made by the female. Around a clutch of three to six speckled eggs are laid and both parents take turns incubating the eggs for 11-15 days. During the breeding season, males grow a breeding plumage where pale brown lore stripe is seen on its head. The juvenile bird is quite grayish compared to the bright yellow plumage of the adult.What is their conservation status?According to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the citrine wagtail birds currently have the status of Least Concern and it has a stable population that seems to have an increasing trend.Citrine Wagtail Fun FactsWhat do citrine wagtails look like?The citrine wagtail gets its name for the bright yellow plumage, and it looks quite similar to the yellow wagtail. The adult male of this bird species has a yellow head along with a gray back and wings and white on the wing bars and yellow underparts. During the breeding season, the male may have a pale lore stripe on his head. Compared to the male, the female has a brighter yellow plumage but has pale gray feathers on the wings and tail. The male, as well as the female, have a dark bill and feet. The citrine wagtail is said to have a longer tail compared to the yellow wagtail.How cute are they?The citrine wagtail is adorable and cute especially because of its plumage and it has a similar appeal to that of the yellow warbler.How do they communicate?The main form of communication of the citrine wagtails is through its calls and it’s said to be quite similar to that of the yellow wagtail species. However, the call of a citrine wagtail is a bit harsher and has a buzz to it. Also, the call lasts for a shorter duration but the pitch is more constant.How big is a citrine wagtail?The average body size range of the citrine wagtail species is around 6.4-7.8 in (16·5–20 cm). Compared to it, the fox sparrow has an average body size range of 10.5-11.4 in (26-28 cm) making it bigger than the citrine wagtail species.How fast can a citrine wagtail fly?We don’t know the exact flying range of the citrine wagtail species, but its close relative, the white browed wagtail has a flight speed that can go up to 24 mph (38.6 kph).How much does a citrine wagtail weigh?The average weight range of the citrine wagtails is around 0.6-0.8 oz (18–25 g).What are the male and female names of the species?There are no separate names for the male and female of this species.What would you call a baby citrine wagtail?The cute and adorable baby of the citrine wagtail is known as a chick.What do they eat?This is an insectivorous species, so it depends on invertebrates and it mainly feeds on aquatic insects and their larvae. However, this bird species also commonly feed on adult dragonflies and beetle larvae that are found near its habitat. It can easily wade through shallow water to search for food and at times it will also catch insects present in the air.Are they dangerous?No, this bird is too small to be dangerous to anyone.Would they make a good pet?No, this is a wild bird species, and you cannot keep it as a pet. However, it is widely seen in different parts of Asia and Europe.Did you know…The common subspecies of this bird includes Motacilla citreola calcarata, Motacilla citreola werae, and Motacilla citreola citreola.This bird is able to walk on top of the aquatic vegetation in search of food.This bird species may also spend its winter in Africa, especially in the countries of Egypt, Sinai, Morocco, Cameroon, Djibouti, and Ethiopia.The citrine wagtail species is a little larger than the yellow wagtail.Is a wagtail a songbird? Yes, the citrine wagtail is a songbird that is predominantly found in Asian countries like India and it has a song composed of two to four simple notes which are especially heard when the bird is in flight.What color are wagtails? Citrine wagtails are usually covered in bright yellow feathers along with brown on their wings. However, there are several species of wagtails that have other plumage variations like the Japanese wagtail is lack and white, whereas the gray wagtail has gray and yellow plumage.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these blue-capped cordon-bleu facts and blue cotinga facts pages.You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable zentangle peacock coloring pages.Main image by Savithri Singh and second by Davidvraju.

What type of animal is a citrine wagtail?

The citrine wagtail (Motacilla citreola) is a species of wagtails that is known for its bright yellow color.

Fun Citrine Wagtail Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Insects

What do they eat? Carnivore

Average litter size? 3-6 eggs

How much do they weigh? 0.6-0.8 oz (18–25 g)

How long are they? 6.4-7.8 in (16·5–20 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Yellow and gray

Skin Type Feathers

What were their main threats? Habitat Loss

What is their conservation status? Least Concern

Where you’ll find them? Marshes, Tundra, Meadows, Willow Thickets, Edges Of Lakes

Locations Europe, Central Palearctic (breeding)

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Motacilla

Class Aves

Family Motacillidae

Fun Citrine Wagtail Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Insects

What do they eat? Carnivore

Average litter size? 3-6 eggs

How much do they weigh? 0.6-0.8 oz (18–25 g)

How long are they? 6.4-7.8 in (16·5–20 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Yellow and gray

Skin Type Feathers

What were their main threats? Habitat Loss

What is their conservation status? Least Concern

Where you’ll find them? Marshes, Tundra, Meadows, Willow Thickets, Edges Of Lakes

Locations Europe, Central Palearctic (breeding)

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Motacilla

Class Aves

Family Motacillidae

Fun Citrine Wagtail Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Insects

What do they eat? Carnivore

Average litter size? 3-6 eggs

How much do they weigh? 0.6-0.8 oz (18–25 g)

How long are they? 6.4-7.8 in (16·5–20 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Yellow and gray

Skin Type Feathers

What were their main threats? Habitat Loss

What is their conservation status? Least Concern

Where you’ll find them? Marshes, Tundra, Meadows, Willow Thickets, Edges Of Lakes

Locations Europe, Central Palearctic (breeding)

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Motacilla

Class Aves

Family Motacillidae