BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



55 



Blue^beafceb Wagtail. 



THE Blue-headed Wagtail (Motacil/a flava> Linnaeus) is 

 an irregular spring and autumn visitor to the British Isles. 

 It is mostly met with on the South Coast, and has nested 

 in the North of England. It also nests in Central Europe 

 and Central Asia, and migrates to Africa in winter. The 

 adult male in summer has the crown and nape bluish-grey ; 

 distinct white eye-stripe ; back, deep yellowish-olive ; wing- 

 coverts, dark brown, with yellowish-white tips, which form 

 a double bar ; secondaries, margined with yellowish-white ; 

 primaries, dark brown ; tail, dusky-brown ; two outer tail- 

 feathers on each side, mostly white; chin and underneath 

 lores, white ; under parts, bright yellow ; irides, brown ; 

 bill, legs, and feet, dark brown. Length, about six inches. 

 The female is duller and fainter in colour than the male. 



