Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola) सोनधोबी

Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola) सोनधोबी - Birds Around Me 0073

- December 26, 2025

The Citrine Wagtail, known in Hindi as सोनधोबी, is a graceful little bird that brightens India’s wetlands and fields with its cheerful presence. Its name beautifully combines son (gold/yellow) with dhobi (washerman), reflecting both its golden plumage and its characteristic tail-wagging habit.

Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola) सोनधोबी
Jabalpur, November 2017

This wagtail is a small, slender bird measuring about 16–18 cm in length. Breeding males are striking, with a bright yellow head, breast, and underparts, contrasted by grey wings and back. Females and non-breeding males are paler, but still show a yellow wash that makes them stand out. The long, constantly wagging tail is its most distinctive feature, helping birdwatchers identify it even from a distance.

Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola) सोनधोबी
Jabalpur, December 2025

The Citrine Wagtail breeds in Central Asia and the Himalayas, nesting near marshes and riverbanks. In winter, it migrates southwards, becoming a common visitor across India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia. It thrives in wetlands, paddy fields, and village tanks, often seen foraging along the edges of water bodies.

Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola) सोनधोबी
Jabalpur, November 2017

Like other wagtails, the सोनधोबी is constantly in motion, bobbing its tail as it walks or feeds. It forages on the ground, feeding mainly on insects and small invertebrates, which it picks from mud and shallow water. Its flight is swift and direct, and during migration, it often joins mixed flocks of other wagtails. The call is a sharp “tsip-tsip,” frequently heard as it flies overhead.

The Hindi name सोनधोबी captures both its golden plumage and its lively tail-wagging, likened to a washerman beating clothes. Rural communities often recognize it by this habit, making it a familiar bird in agricultural landscapes.

Hindi Name of 0073. Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola): सोनधोबी

Birds Around Me - Unfinished List (अपूर्ण सूची)
https://birds.rekabira.in/p/this-is-list-of-birds-i-clicked-since.html

Ashutosh Jhureley @BirdsAroundMe