Photo: Frank Vassen from Brussels, Belgium / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Citrine Wagtail
Motacilla citreola
Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola) is a member of the Motacillidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 19.1 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Motacillidae Wagtails, Pipits
- Genus Motacilla
- Species citreola
Quick facts
- Weight
- 19.1 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Motacillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Citrine Wagtail hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Citrine Wagtail is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola) is a member of the Motacillidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL widespread.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 19.1 g, with a wing length of about 8.6 cm and a tail of around 8.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 16.4 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Citrine Wagtail?
The Citrine Wagtail is a small bird that weighs around 19.1 g.
Where does the Citrine Wagtail live?
The Citrine Wagtail is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL widespread, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Citrine Wagtail belong to?
The Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola) belongs to the Motacillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Citrine Wagtail eat?
The Citrine Wagtail hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Citrine Wagtail migrate?
The Citrine Wagtail is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Citrine Wagtail endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Citrine Wagtail make?
1 real field recording of the Citrine Wagtail — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Citrine Wagtail's range?
The Citrine Wagtail has a mapped global range of about 16.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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