21

Willie Wagtail

(Rhipidura leucophrys)
Alternative names: "Black-and-white Fantail", "Shepherd's Companion", "Wagtail", "Frogbird", "Morning-bird","Gossipbird", "Messengerbird"
Aboriginal names: "jitta jitta" [bibbulbum], "jenning-gherrie", "mugana" "tityarokan", "deereeree", "dhirriirrii" [yuwaalaraay], "dhirridhirri" [gamilaraay]
Size: 19-22 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

There are three races of Willie Wagtails, of which one ("melaleuca") is not found on the Australian continent, but further north across the Torres Strait. Races "leucophrys" and "picata" are found across the entire Australian continent, including Kangaroo Island and the north coast of Tasmania. Of these two, race "picata" is found north of a line connecting Townsville, QLD, Mt. Isa, QLD, Gibson Desert North, NT, and Eighty Mile Beach, NT. Everywhere south of that line nominate race "leucophryis" is found.

Willie Wagtails can be found in a variety of habitats, except rainforest. They adapt to the presence of humans very well and are frequently seen around parks, gardens and houses.

Twitcher's tip

The name "wagtail" is a misnomer for this species. Willie Wagtails are more closely related to other fantails (listed in family group 21; use the drop-down menu above on the right to go to other bird species in this family group directly) than other wagtails. There is also a list including other genuine wagtail species.

Sightings

Willie Wagtails "own" the place where we lived until 2006, 20 km south of Narrabri, NSW. They were in our garden almost all year round and bred in the trees around the house, sometimes more than one couple within 20 m distance of each other.

There is also a resident family where we live since 2007, 20 km east of Narrabri.

Also sighted on a trip to the east of the dividing range, in the area from Armidale to Dorrigo, New South Wales. In July 2009 also spotted in various locations in central QLD.

Seen by us also on a trip to outback NSW and South Australia in March 2008, basically everywhere we went.

Photos

Race "leucophrys"

Portrait of a Willie Wagtail

Frontal view of a Willie Wagtail challenging the photographer

Close-up lateral view of a Willie Wagtail

Willie Wagtail on the lawn in our garden, making use of the local water supply

Willie Wagtail preening

Here a Willie Wagtail that has specialised into hunting insects standing in the shallow waters of a creek

This Willie Wagtail has a deformed bill

Potentially deadly mistake by an immature Willie Wagtail ; the bird scabbed an insect out of the web of a Golden Silk Orb Weaver [Nephila edulis] (external link), but could not free itself of the web anymore; it was rescued by a friendly helper, who had to drag the webbing off its plumage and feet

Near-frontal view of a fledgling Willie Wagtail

Here a lateral view of a fledgling Willie Wagtail

Adult Willie Wagtail feeding a young one with an insect

Bird without tail feathers

In the photos below we present a "new species", the Willie No-Wagtail! It is unclear why this (adult!) Willie Wagtail had no tail feathers in the middle of September 2007, right in the breeding season. This fellow was actually just building its nest when we came across it. The complete absence of a tail led to a flight pattern that is entirely different from other birds of the species. Naturally, the characteristic wagging was also absent. What all this may suggest is that even without a tail and a wag a Willie Wagtail can still successfully attract a breeding partner.

Lateral view of an adult Willie Wagtail without a tail (slightly out of focus)

Frontal view of the same bird as above

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jul - Jan Eggs: 2 - 4 Incubation period: 14 - 15 days Fledging age: 14 days

Given the right conditions, Willie Wagtails can breed any time of the year.

Additional information

There is a separate page describing the development of Willie Wagtail chicks from about day 8 to day 14 (the days they fledged).

Nest

Type: Bowl Material: Grass bound by webs Height above ground: 1 - 15 m

The nest of a Willie Wagtail is nothing more than a cup glued onto a horizontal branch or similarly suitable object. In the cup they raise typically three chicks, which - when growing up - have a hard time staying inside or balancing on the edges of the nest without falling out. As soon as possible they will venture out onto the branch holding the nest.

View from above into a Willie Wagtail's nest

Here a view of the three chicks that hatched out of the eggs shown below, in the same nest as shown above

Photo illustrating the size of a Willie Wagtail's nest; the adult bird protrudes over the rim on both sides

An overcrowded nest in a dead tree in our former neighbour's billabong

Willie Wagtail's nest with three chicks; they are too big to all fit into the tiny cup, so the first and most daring starts to venture out, even while the parents are calling a warning

Here a pair of Wagtails that got themselves into quite some predicament; in addition to the fact that they had built their nest at eye level for a curious photographer, at least one of the adult birds had to stay at the nest at all times, because it was located in a pine tree in flower and being overrun by ants - one can actually see an ant on the white plumage of the adult bird

In the general hubbub little mistakes can happen - oops...

Eggs

Size: 20 x 15 mm Colour: Creamy, with light- to dark-brown speckles Shape: Tapered oval

View onto the three eggs inside a nest

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive Elementary unit: Pair

Willie Wagtails are used by other bird species as "sentries". When their alarm call is heard, other birds will leave the area.

They are the most fiercely territorial birds in the area where we live. During the breeding season of the Willie Wagtails no Magpie-larks, Butcherbirds, Australian Magpies or Pied Currawongs are tolerated in the area. Even birds as large as Australian Ravens are hustled by Willie Wagtails to a degree that they prefer to leave rather than put up with the nuisance. We even have seen Willie Wagtails swooping on birds of prey the size of kites. Want to see the extremes that Willie Wagtails go to? See below.

Willie Wagtail hustling a Wedge-tailed Eagle at great height

During their breeding season Willie Wagtails appear to never sleep. They make themselves heard at any time of the day and night.

While out hunting insects in the paddocks Willie Wagtails often make use of the livestock as perches from which they dive onto the insects disturbed by them.

Willie Wagtail using an Eastern Grey Kangaroo as its perch for hunting insects

Similar to Jacky Winters they stay around us while working in the garden, picking off insects disturbed by us. The difference is that Willie Wagtails will come much closer than Jacky Winters.

The only time during the year when Willie Wagtails make themselves scarce, probably as families disperse prior to the start of the next breeding season, is in winter (June/July).

On only one occasion so far we have seen a pair of Willie Wagtails tolerating other species nesting close to their own nest. In September 2010 there were 4 different bird nests in our garden, within a radius of only 10 metres. Next to Willie Wagtails there were also pairs of Australian Magpies, Magpie-larks and Striped Honeyeaters. A potentially interesting detail observed by us is that the Willie Wagtails, which usually nest only 1-5 m above ground, on that occasion nested high in a treetop, at about 8 m (the same height as the nest of the Australian Magpies, higher than the other species.

Food

Like all other members of the Rhipidura family known to us, Willie Wagtails are insect hunters.