This is because this bird forms a cryptic species complex with the eastern (M. tschutschensis ) and western yellow wagtail (M. flava).

[2] Motacilla is the Latin name for the pied wagtail; although actually a diminutive of motare, " to move about", from medieval times it led to the misunderstanding of cilla as "tail".

In winter plumage, its yellow underparts may be diluted by white, and the head is brownish with a yellowish supercilium.

Its range is expanding westwards, and it is a rare but increasing vagrant to western Europe.

[4] It is an insectivorous bird of open country near water, such as wet meadows and bogs, and nests on the ground, laying 4–5 speckled eggs.