lwingkay

SIU LEK YUEN VALLEY
SEPT 22, 2008PM
SWAROVSKI 80, 30X, NIKON C8400
ISO 50

1 YELLOW WAGTAIL

2

3

Beetle

Photo 1&2 should be a Grey wagtail.

lwingkay

I have been thinking that the yellow wagtail has a green patch of feather on the back while the grey wagtail all grey for the back feather.
This is a closer look at the back feather for the same wagtail I had shot.
Let me know if this way of identification is inappropriate.
Anyway, thanks for pointing out.
Regards,
Peter

P9220167.JPG (120.54 KB)

22/09/2008 20:51

深藍-Owen

agree with Grey wagtail. see the color of its legs.

Beetle

The habitat also help to differentiate the two. Grey wagtails can be found near Freshwater streams(just like those in Siu Lek Yuen) where yellow wagtails usually do not appear in such habitat.

HKBWS Vicky

I agree with Grey Wagtail as well. Besides the habitat mentioned by Beetle above, you can distinguish between Grey and Yellow Wagtail by the length of tail. Tail of Grey Wagtail is relatively longer than that of Yellow Wagtail. You can compare your photo with other yellow wagtail photo in this forum.

ajohn

Quote:

Original posted by lwingkay at 22/09/2008 20:51
I have been thinking that the yellow wagtail has a green patch of feather on the back while the grey wagtail all grey for the back feather.
This is a closer look at the back feather for the same wagta ...

Your method for separating grey wagtail and yellow wagtail is wrong. In fact, grey wagtail has a yellow/green rump which contrasts with the grey back, whereas on yellow the rump and back are the same colour (green or greyish in HK, depending on time of year and age of the bird). There are a number of differences between the species - habitat, tail length and leg colour are all mentioned. Also call, head pattern, wing bars and undertail coverts (always yellow on Grey Wagtail, but yellow only on breeding plumage Yellow Wagtail)

lwingkay

Thanks for pointing out ways to identify. It is very kind of you all.

Peter