Scientific name:
Motacilla flava

Natural spread:
Europe, Asia, North America

in the different regions of its gigantic spread-area distinguishes the many races of the sheep or meadow-stilt for itself, also more meaningfully yellow wagtail named, above all through the head-drawing. As migratory birds, the individual subtypes spend the winter in the tropical Asia and Africa. Here, they often form large troops, that consist (Eurasia and North America). On the retreat but itself the races again from, so that half-breeds rarely are created.

Way of life The sheep-stilts are widespread and don't live in too dry grass-surfaces, also salt-swamps and the tundra. Especially gladly they are near pasture-livestock, because here the insect-hunt is very successful. Fast they run over the ground, see-saw with the long tail up and down and read off the insects from the plants, occasionally they carry off its food also in the flight. With the pasture-livestock, they can form even a type of life-community; not rarely, they are to be found with the food-search on the back of grazing or recumbent livestock and free it from tiresome nuisance-spirits simultaneously.

Reproduction In March, the males occupy its brood-precinct and are willing anytime to defend it vigorously; often, downright fights occur. Approximately 3 weeks later, also the females arrive. After the pair-formation, the male with spread tail and short Balzflügen tries to win the female until it admits the mating.

The bowl-shaped nest is built in a ground-deepening in the protection against dense grass or under low bushes. The female selects the suitable location and creates also grass, stalks and roots here; on this occasion, it is accompanied by the male. The nest-hollow always is dense laid out with hair and animal-wool. Mainly the female broods on the 4-6 eggs, during the day, it can take turns with the male. The dunigen nest-stools slip after 12-14 days and of are taken care by both parents.