Black-headed Wagtail
Motacilla flava feldegg Michahelles, 1830
Photo © Kris Webb
Sub-species
STATUS
The Balkans and Turkey to Iran and Afghanistan.
OVERVIEW
BOU (1971) mentioned sight records from Dumfries (June 1925), Shetland (May 1936 and East Lothian (July 1952).
Claimed records of this race below are considered to be unproven or unacceptable following concerns that some individuals of M. f. thunbergi might have black heads and therefore resemble feldegg (BOURC (1993) Ibis 135: 496).
NOT PROVEN
0). 1893 Cornwall Penzance, two, males, obtained, 23rd May, now at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Acc. No. 1962Z10.328 & 329).
(Watson, 2010).
[KAN].
History Watson (2010) in detailing the J. L. Auden collection in the Birmingham Museum lists two male specimens that were obtained at Penzance, Cornwall, on 23rd May 1893, adding that they were bought at the sale of Sir V. H. Crewe's collection.
Comment Crewe's specimens have been questioned before over their provenance and this record has come to light 83 years after the event leaving it open to doubt. Not acceptable.
0). 1902 Sussex Pevensey, male, seen, May.
(Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[BOURC (1993), Ibis 135: 496].
History Walpole-Bond (1938 (1): 253) says: 'The first known occurrence of this bird in our islands goes to Sussex and to the credit of Michael Nicoll, who told me how during May, 1902, he had identified a male at Pevensey.'
Comment Michael Nicoll was heavily involved in the "Hastings Rarities" fraud. Not acceptable.
0). 1903 Sussex Willingdon, adult male, shot, 13th May.
(R. Bowdler Sharpe, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 13: 69; N. F. Ticehurst, Zoologist 1903: 420; Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History R. Bowdler Sharpe, Editor (1903) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XIII. p. 69, at the 96th Meeting of the Club held on 15th April 1903 at the Restaurant Frascati, London, says: 'Mr. Ruskin Butterfield exhibited a specimen of the Black-headed Wagtail, Motacilla feldeggi of Michahelles, which had been shot near Willingdon, Sussex, on May 13th last, and examined by himself in the flesh and in fresh condition. The specimen had been compared with the series of M. feldeggi in the British Museum, and there could be no doubt that it was rightly identified. It was a male in fine plumage. The species was not known to have previously occurred in the British Islands.'
N. F. Ticehurst (1903) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. VII. p. 420, says: 'May 13th. An adult male Black-headed Wagtail (Motacilla feldegg) and two males of the Grey-headed Wagtail (M. borealis) shot near Willingdon, Sussex. This is the first occurrence of the former in this country (vide Bull. B.O.C., XCVIII.).'
Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (1): 254).
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1908 Kent Near Lydd, adult male, 3rd June.
(E. N. Bloomfield, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 1: 187; J. B. Nichols, British Birds 2: 165).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History E. N. Bloomfield (1908) in the Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist, Vol. I. p. 187, says: 'Dr. N. F. Ticehurst has most kindly sent me a long list of rare birds which have occurred in our own and neighbouring districts, to which Mr. Butterfield has added some notes. In the neighbouring districts - Motacilla flava melanocephala, Lichst., Black-headed Wagtail, Romney Marsh, June 3rd, 1908.'
J. B. Nichols (1908) in British Birds, Vol. II. p. 165, says: 'A fine male Black-headed Wagtail was shot at Fairfield, Lydd, Kent, on June 3rd, 1908. It was taken by me to the Natural History Museum, and identified as Motacilla flava melanocephala.'
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1909 Sussex Winchelsea, adult male, 23rd May, now at the Booth Museum, Brighton.
(E. N. Bloomfield, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 1: 206; J. B. Nichols, British Birds 3: 256; Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History E. N. Bloomfield (1909) in the Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist, Vol. I. p. 206, says: 'We are again indebted to Dr. N. F. Ticehurst for a long list of rare birds which have occurred in our own and neighbouring districts, to which Mr. Butterfield has made some good additions. In the Hastings district - Motacilla flave melanocephala, Licht., Black-headed Wagtail, a male at Winchelsea, May 26th, 1909.'
J. B. Nichols (1910) in British Birds, Vol. III. p. 256, says: 'A fine male Black-headed Wagtail (Motacilla flava melanocephala) was shot at Winchelsea, Sussex, on May 23rd, 1909. It was examined in the flesh by Mr. W. Ruskin Butterfield.'
Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (1): 254).
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1909 Sussex Romney Marsh, adult male, 26th May, now at the Hastings Museum.
(E. N. Bloomfield, Hastings andEast Sussex Naturalist 1: 304; C. B. Ticehurst, British Birds 3: 257; Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History E. N. Bloomfield (1911) in the Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist, Vol. I. p. 304, says: 'Dr. N. F. Ticehurst has sent me a long and very interesting list of rare birds which have occurred in our own and neighbouring districts, to which I have added a few others lately presented to the Museum by Mr. W. H. Mullens. In Sussex - Motacilla flava melanocephala, Licht., Black-headed Wagtail, adult male, near Rye, May 26th, 1909.'
C. B. Ticehurst (1910) in British Birds, Vol. III. p. 257, says: 'A male Black-headed Wagtail (M. flava melanocephala) was shot in Romney Marsh (on the Sussex side) on May 26th, 1909. It is now in the Hastings Museum.'
Accepted locally by Walpole-Bond (1938 (1): 254) who adds: '...it was killed on our side of the ditch.'
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1910 Norfolk No locality, male, seen, 17th and 19th June.
(J. Rudge Harding, Field 2nd Jul., 1910: 52; Eds., British Birds 4: 92-93).
[Eds., British Birds 4: 92-93].
History J. Rudge Harding of Chelsea (1910) in The Field of 2nd Jul., Vol. CXVI. p. 52, says 'On June 17 I saw on the marshes close to the sea in Norfolk a wagtail which appeared to be identical with the Yellow Wagtail, except that it had a jet-black head. The bird perched on a wire fence in full view. The black cap seemed to extend as far as the nape of the neck. I was alone on this occasion, but on June 19, when accompanied by a friend, the bird flew past us and we both saw the deep black head plainly. Howard Saunders states that M. feldeggi or M. melanocephala has no white eye stripe, but that M. paradoxa has. Each glimpse I had of this Norfolk wagtail was momentary, but I do not think there was an eye stripe.'
[... but in our opinion no satisfactory conclusion can be arrived at with respect to the bird seen by our correspondent. - Ed.]
In an Editorial (1910) in British Birds, Vol. IV. pp. 92-93, under 'Probable Black-headed Wagtail in Norfolk,' they say: 'Mr. J. Rudge Harding has sent us an account (which he has already communicated to the Field, 2, VII, 1910, p. 52) of a Yellow Wagtail which he saw on June 17th, 1910, and again on June 19th in north Norfolk. Mr. Harding describes the bird as apparently like the Yellow Wagtail (M. raii), but with a jet-black head. In subsequent correspondence Mr. Harding gives the following observations: - "The bird flew for a moment to a wire-fence and I had just time to get my glasses on it, before it flew again. All I could see was the striking black head, which extended quite to the nape...I was so amazed at this unexpected sight that details as to chin or eye-stripe escaped me. The bird otherwise seemed to be practically a Yellow Wagtail, of which there were many in the marshes where this one appeared. Two days later I walked across the same stretch of marsh accompanied by a friend. Suddenly the black-headed Wagtail flew past us, within three hundred yards of where I had seen it before, and we exclaimed simultaneously, "There he is - a jet-black head"! We think there is little doubt that the bird seen by Mr. Rudge Harding was an example of Motacilla flava melanocephala".'
Comment Not fully identified. Not acceptable.
0). 1912 Sussex Pevensey, obtained, 23rd May, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMS.Z.1913.208).
(J. M. Collinson & R. Y. McGowan, British Birds 104: 543, plate 288).
[J. M. Collinson & R. Y. McGowan, British Birds 104: 543, plate 288].
History J. M. Collinson & R. Y. McGowan (2011) in British Birds, Vol. CIV. p. 543, in a Letter, under 'Hastings Rarities in the Royal Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh', state that the following species were sold to the museum during 1913 and 1914 by George Bristow, the taxidermist of St Leonard's, who was at the heart of the fraud known as the 'Hastings Rarities', just before Witherby challenged him in 1916 over the amount of rarities recorded in the area. A male from pevensey on 25th May 1912 (Acc. No. 1913.208).
0). 1925 Dumfries & Galloway Spango Water, Upper Nithsdale, Dumfriesshire, seen, 14th June.
(W. Stewart, Scottish Naturalist 45: 107; E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul, Scottish Naturalist 46: 71; Eds., British Birds 19: 155; E. V. Baxter, Scottish Naturalist 67: 103).
[BOURC (1993), Ibis 135: 496].
History Walter Stewart of Airdrie (1925) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XLV. p. 107, says: 'On the 14th June 1925, in Upper Nithsdale, at a spot a short distance up the Spango Water, my attention was arrested by bird notes which somewhat resembled those of the Yellow Wagtail. Directing my son, who had the binoculars, to examine the bird, which was perched in a birch tree at the water-side, I was somewhat amazed to hear him pronounce it "a Yellow Wagtail with a jet-black head". This description I found to be absolutely correct; in fact I have seldom seen two colours show up in such marked contrast - the jet-black head and the brilliant yellow of the breast. It now flew down and for some time continued to thread its way Pipit-like, about the steep grassy bank, where I had ample opportunity to examine it minutely. That it was the rare Black-headed Wagtail, Motacilla feldeggi, I am positive, everything in fact favouring correct identification - perfect light; short distance, aided by powerful x 25 binoculars, which provided an almost arm's-length view of the bird.'
In an Editorial (1925) in British Birds, Vol. XIX. p. 155, they say: 'Mr. W. Stewart records (Scot. Nat., 1925, p. 107) that a Wagtail with a jet-black head and brilliant yellow breast was watched by him and his son in good light and at short distance with the assistance of powerful binoculars on June 14th, 1925, in Upper Nithsdale, a short distance up the Spango Water. That this was an adult example of Motacilla ftava feldegg there can be no reasonable doubt. The bird has never been recorded Scotland before and only four or five times in England.'
Admitted by E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul (1926) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XLVI. p. 71, in the annual report.
Admitted by E. V. Baxter (1955) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LXVII. p. 103, under 'Review of Ornithological Changes in Scotland in 1953.'
0). 1936 Shetland Whalsay, 20th May.
(G. Waterston, Scottish Naturalist 57: 27; E. V. Baxter, Scottish Naturalist 67: 103).
[BOURC (1993), Ibis 135: 496].
History G. Waterston (1937) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LVII. p. 27, says: 'Mr. Tom Bruce, jun., obtained perfect views at close range of a small yellow Wagtail with yellow underparts and jet black head on Whalsay on 20th May 1936. He feels certain that it was this race, but unfortunately the bird was not examined in the hand.'
Admitted by E. V. Baxter (1955) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LXVII. p. 103, under 'Review of Ornithological Changes in Scotland in 1953.'
0). 1952 Lothian Aberlady Bay, 2nd July.
(K. S. Macgregor & F. D. Hamilton, British Birds 46: 219; E. V. Baxter, Scottish Naturalist 67: 103).
[BOURC (1993), Ibis 135: 496].
History K. S. Macgregor & F. D. Hamilton (1953) in British Birds, Vol. XLVI. p. 219, say: 'Lothian. - On July 2nd, 1952, at Aberlady Bay, East Lothian, we came across what proved to be a Black-headed Wagtail (Motacilla flava feldegg). The bird was watched for nearly ten minutes on an area of grassy saltings and the following description was taken on the spot: - forehead, crown, nape and ear coverts black with very small white crescents above the eyes; back olive-green with rump more yellowish-green; chin and throat creamy yellow; rest of under-parts bright yellow with faint buff band across breast; tail dark brown with white outer feathers; wings brown, primaries edged buff; bill and legs black. The bird spent much of the time in one place, preening, until it was chased by a Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis). Then, after landing on a log the bird left of its own accord, flying high in a south-easterly direction without making any call. This is the first definite record for Scotland.'
[There could only be one good reason for failing to accept this clearly described record, and that is if there was any evidence that aberrant Yellow Wagtails showing the characteristics of M. f. feldegg had been known to occur in the West European populations, but we can find nothing to support such a suggestion and so consider the record perfectly valid. We have shown the details to Dr. Stuart Smith who agrees that it would be most unlikely for a population of flavissima suddenly to throw up an aberrant of the feldegg type. He adds that the band across the breast points to its having been a bird moulting into first summer plumage. - Eds.]
Admitted by E. V. Baxter (1955) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LXVII. p. 103, under 'Review of Ornithological Changes in Scotland in 1953.'
