This species breeds in much of temperate Europe and Asia. It is resident in the milder parts of its range, such as western Europe, but northern and eastern populations migrate to Africa and south Asia.In kenya they stay between september to april.

The Western Yellow Wagtail feeds on small invertebrates, both aquatic and terrestrial, seeds and small crustaceans, dragonflies and grasshoppers. 

On the wintering grounds in Africa, beetles adults and larvae and lepidopterans are less eaten than bugs, ants, grasshoppers and small flies, depending on the region.

Like other wagtails, walks on ground and pumps its long, white-sided tail up and down. Plumage highly variable, but breeding male wholly bright yellow below, with greenish back. Male head pattern varies regionally: in U.K. has greenish head with yellow eyebrow; in northern Europe head slaty gray overall; in central and southwest Europe head blue-gray with white eyebrow. Individuals of several subspecies may winter together. Female and nonbreeding plumages drabber and paler, with ghosting of male patterns.