Western yellow wagtail
Motacilla flava
Habitat
The Western yellow wagtail is found throughout Europe with the exception of Iceland, Scotland and Ireland. Its habitat consists of moist or wet areas with low vegetation, such as wet meadows, marshes, wet steppe and grastoendra. In Western Europe, the Western yellow wagtail breeds almost exclusively in agricultural areas and in reserves with extensive grassland management.

Appearance


Diet
The Western yellow wagtail feeds on terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, seeds and berries.


Breeding
The breeding season varies according to latitude. In the Netherlands, the Western yellow wagtail breeds from late April into July.
The Western yellow wagtail maintains a monogamous mating system. During the spring, Western yellow wagtails will search for a mate. They will hold short fluttering flights. The male will sing at the same time. He then displays his breast feathers, folds his wings down and spreads his tail on the ground as he slowly circles around the female.
The pair lives solitary and breeds territorially during the breeding season. The female will build a cup-shaped nest from grass, on or close to the ground. The inside is lined with animal hair.
The Western yellow wagtail has 1 or 2 clutches per breeding season and per clutch, the female lays 4 to 6 eggs. Both sexes incubate the eggs in 11 to 13 days. The chicks remain in the nest for 10 to 11 days while receiving food from both parents. After fledging, the young remain with the parents for several weeks before they are independent.



White wagtail
Motacilla alba
Habitat
The White wagtail lives throughout Europe. This bird species inhabits non-forested, wet and dry habitats such as coasts, rocky or sandy areas in the highlands, slow-flowing rivers in the lowlands, lake shores, farmland, gardens, parks and grasslands.



Appearance


Diet
The White wagtail feeds on small terrestrial and aquatic animals, crumbs and other household scraps.


Breeding
The White wagtail maintains a monogamous mating system. The courtship starts with a chase of the female by the male. They then take to the ground together. The male holds up his beak to show his throat pattern to the female. After this, the male walks in a zigzag motion around the female. Finally, the male makes deep bends and keeps his tail spread down.
The breeding season takes place from early April through August. The nest is built by the pair and consists of an open cup of twigs, grass stems, roots and mosses. The inside of the nest is lined with hair, wool and feathers. The nest is usually located low to the ground, between crevices in trees, rocks, cliffs, walls and bridges.
The female lays 3 to 8 eggs. Both the male and female incubate the eggs, but the female does most of the work. The eggs take 11 to 13 days to hatch. After hatching, the chicks receive food from both parents and remain in the nest for a period of 11 to 16 days. After they leave the nest, they will be fed by the parents for another 1 week.



How will you help the Western yellow wagtaill and White wagtail?
Both the Western yellow wagtail and White wagtail use a half-open nest box.
For the Western yellow wagtail, hang the nest box near running water (with deciduous trees nearby). The nesting box is best placed under a bridge or weir, on a shed or jetty near the water. The nest box should be placed close to the ground, with a maximum height of 2 m.
For the White wagtail, place the nest box in an open area at a height of 1.50 to 3 m.