Another black-and-white story this month, involving the aptly named Willie Wagtail. It is generally thought the bird wags its tail to flush out insects from the grass. Research in the 1990’s showed the wagging was more vigorous when it was overcast and less vigorous when it was sunny – suggesting the insects are more easily surprised by the tail shadows when it is sunny and so less wagging is required.
Willie Wagtail
There are also stories of wagtails wagging their tail around farm animals. And wagtails have been seen annoying horses by repeatedly swooping their ears. The wagtails then catch the insects that have been flushed out by the movement of the horse. Smart birds!
When I see Willie Wagtails at the beach, there is very little tail wagging – maybe they have bigger fish to fry when working the rock pools! The photo shows a typically determined and no-nonsense Willie Wagtail.
James Orton