The willie (or willy) wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) is a passerine bird native to Australia, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, the Bismarck Archipelago, and Eastern Indonesia.It is a common and familiar bird throughout much of its range, living in most habitats apart from thick forest. The name wagtail stems from the constant sideways wagging of the tail. The Willie Wagtail can be distinguished from other similar-sized black and white birds by its black throat and white eyebrows and whisker marks. Spearwood. hide. It is believed that having a Willie (or Willy) wagtail as your animal totem brings you to live with the feeling of excitement and gregariousness. The Willie wagtail was a feature in Australian Aboriginal folklore. Close. I see your Willie Wagtail nest and raise you... baby Willies in a nest! Offer food in a way that minimises the risk of harm o Ensure the area in which you feed birds is kept clean, to minimise the risk of spreading disease. In urban areas it has adapted to foraging on paved areas such as car parks. User account menu. o Small amounts of shredded lettuce, corn or peas are reasonable options for swans. The plumage is black above with a white belly. 21 comments. The Pied Wagtailâs food is almost exclusively insects, with often tiny ones eaten which other ground-feeding birds may well disregard. A willie wagtail feeding her three recently hatched chicks. It prefers bare areas for feeding, where it can see and pursue its prey. In Australia, this bird is considered as the largest among the breed of fantails. I see your Willie Wagtail nest and raise you... baby Willies in a nest! 5 hours ago. It was thought that the Willie wagtail could steal a person's secrets while lingering around camps eavesdropping, so women would be tight-lipped in the presence of the bird. save. (such as ducks, magpies, galahs, ravens, willie wagtails and wattlebirds). The photo below was taken a few years ago because I donât want to disturb the mother Willie wagtail. A common and familiar bird, the pied wagtail is often seen in towns and cities, dashing across lawns, roads and car parks while wagging its long tail up and down. Aboriginal tribes in parts of southeastern Australia, regard this bird as the bearer of bad news. This is an insectivorous bird of open country, often near habitation and water. 251. Pied Wagtail diet and food. Press J to jump to the feed. Pied wagtails eat insects, but will feed on seeds and even rubbish in winter. Normally the Willie Wagtails are friendly, docile birds. It is known for its preying strategy using its âfantailâ to disturb grasses where insect thrives which they will later catch and eat. The reason for this sudden change of attitude is a simple little nest, like the one shown below. It nests in crevices ⦠The plumage is black above with a white belly. They will allow all manner of birds to cohabit happily in our garden. Posted by. Tiny scraps of other food will also be eaten, and this will make up at least some of what they eat in town and city locations in the winter months. The name wagtail stems from the constant sideways wagging of the tail. 251. The Willie Wagtail is the largest, and most well-known, of the Australian fantails. The Willie Wagtail can be distinguished from other similar-sized black and white birds by its black throat and white eyebrows and whisker marks. The Willie Wagtail is the largest, and most well-known, of the Australian fantails. Pied Wagtail Description. share. They flock together at warm roost sites like reedbeds and sewage works or trees and bushes in city centres. 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