The black-headed yellow wagtail, which chose Erzurum Plain to feed in July, was caught on camera with the insect it hunted.
Erzurum Plain, which is one of the most important bird routes in Eastern Anatolia with its large wetlands and rich biological diversity, is flooded with migratory birds in July. This species, which is an insectivorous species that breeds especially in wet grasslands in Türkiye, was seen feeding in the Yakutiye wetland. The images recorded by nature enthusiasts showed the moments when the small songbird, whose lower body was bright yellow and whose head was completely black, held with its beak a small insect it caught in the wetland in Yakutiye. This cute creature, which hunted in the coolness of the wetland in the July heat and was known for its long, thin tail waving up and down, disappeared after standing on the rocks for a while.
Experts state that yellow wagtails are generally concentrated around wetlands where livestock is cultivated. These birds, which feed by hunting flies, small insects and invertebrates that are scared by animals or floating in the air, make a great contribution to the agricultural areas in Erzurum Plain and its surroundings by balancing the increasing fly and insect population in July. After completing their breeding and feeding activities during the summer, these colorful guests of the Erzurum Plain will begin their migration journey towards Sub-Saharan African regions to spend the winter months. - ERZURUM