MOTACILLA MELANOCEPHALA 
(BLACK-HEADED WAGTAIL.) 
Motacilla melanocephala, Licht. Verz. Doubl. p. 36, “ Nubia” (1823). 
Motacilla feldegg, Michahell. Isis, 1830, p. 814, ‘Southern Dalmatia.” 
Motacilla feldeggii (Mich.), Bruch, Isis, 1832, p. 1106, ‘* Dalmatia.” 
Budytes melanocephala, Bp. Comp. List, p. 19, “S. E. Europe ” (1838). 
Motacilla kaleniczenkit, Krynicki, in litt. ined. fide Kaleniczenko, Bull. Soc. Mose. xii. p. 229, 
tab. xx. “Taurus” (1839). 
Motacilla flava, var. africana, Sund. K. Vet. Ak. Handl. 1840, p. 54, “Senaar, Nubia.” 
Motacilla flava, var. dalmatica, Sund. ut supra, “ Dalmatia.” 
Motacilla flava melanocephala, Schlegel, Rev. Crit. p. xxxviii. “ Dalmatia, Buchara, Arabia, 
Egypt, Abyssinia” (1844). 
Budytes nigricapilla, Bp. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 249, “ Dalmatia, Ital., Scand., Lapl.” (1850, 
partim ). 
Motacilla nigricapilla, Von Mill. J. fiir Orn. 1855, p. 386, “ N. Afr.” 
Motacilla lindermayeri, Brehm, fide Linderm. Vog. Griechenl. p. 82, “ Greece” (1860). 
Figure notabiles. 
Demidoff, Faune Pont. pl. ii.; Kalenicz. Bull. Soc. Mose. 1839, tab. xx.; Eversmann, op. 
cit. 1850, pl. viii. fig. 3; Bp. Faun. Ital. pl. 31. fig. 3; Fritsch, Vog. Eur. taf. 17. fig. 15 ; 
Naumann, Vog. Deutschl. taf. 374. 
3 ad. ptil. est. Motacille flave similis, sed capite summo, nucha et capitis lateribus saturaté nigris, dorso 
saturaté olivascenti-viridi: mento, gulé et corpore subtus pulchré flavis: alis et cauda ut in Motacilldé 
flava picturatis: rostro et pedibus nigris: iride fusca. 
9 ad. corpore supra cinerascente olivaceo viridi lavato, pileo nigro notato: corpore subtus pallidé flavo, gula et 
mento fere albis, pectore vix nigro-fusco guttato: alis et cauda ut in mare picturatis. 
Adult Male in summer plumage (Bulgaria). In general coloration of plumage it resembles M. flava; but the 
entire crown, sides of the head, and hind neck are deep glossy black; the back is of a deeper tinge of 
green, and the underparts are brighter yellow, the chin and upper throat also being yellow and not 
white; beak and legs black; iris dark brown. ‘Total length about 6 inches, culmen 0°55, wing 3:2, 
tail 2:9, tarsus 1:0, hind toe with claw 0:68, hind claw 0°32. 
Adult Female (Etawah, India, 21st March). Upper parts dull greyish olive with a green tinge; crown 
strongly marked with black; underparts primrose-yellow ; the throat and chin being nearly white; on 
the breast are one or two dark markings. 
Obs. The changes of plumage undergone by the present species are very similar to those of M. flava; and 
I therefore refrain from giving more detailed descriptions. The young birds of both species resemble 
