Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flava
Tap image to enlarge · Wikimedia Commons
Overview
The Yellow Wagtail is a brilliant yellow summer visitor — the male in May is vivid yellow-green, walking with the characteristic wagtail bob among cattle and sheep, catching insects disturbed by their hooves. The UK population has crashed. Passage birds can be seen on the farmland and marsh behind the Sefton Coast sea wall in spring and autumn. The bright yellow underparts make them hard to miss on the open pasture.
At a Glance
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Motacillidae |
| Habitat | Grazed marsh · Farmland · Wet grassland |
| Diet | Insects disturbed by livestock — follows cattle and sheep |
| UK population | Around 13,000 pairs; red-listed due to 70% decline since 1970 |
| Sefton Coast | Occasional on passage and summer visitor to grazed farmland behind the sea wall |
| Conservation | UK Red List |
Where to See It
Grazed farmland and marsh edges behind the Sefton Coast sea wall. Follows livestock.
Identification
Male: brilliant yellow underparts, yellow-green above with yellow supercilium. Female: duller. Long tail, constantly wagged. Similar to Grey Wagtail but stockier and without grey back.
Viewing & Photography Tips
Check grazed fields near Marshside and Hesketh Out Marsh in May. Yellow Wagtails follow cattle, visible from field edges. Also watch any passage wader sites for individual birds.
Conservation Status
UK Red List
This species is on the UK Red List for Birds (BoCC5), indicating serious concern about its population decline or unfavourable conservation status. Monitoring this species on the Sefton Coast contributes to national population tracking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Yellow Wagtails follow livestock?
Yellow Wagtails exploit the insects disturbed by grazing animals — as cattle and sheep move through grass they disturb flies, beetles, grasshoppers and other invertebrates that the wagtail catches. A single animal can support several wagtails following in its wake. This association is so consistent that finding cattle on pasture is the best strategy for finding Yellow Wagtails.
Related Species
Plan your visit to the Sefton Coast
Marshside RSPB, Formby pinewoods, Ainsdale NNR — practical guides to getting there, what to bring, and the best spots for each season.