Willie-wagtail Willie-wagtail

1. Constant side-to-side tail wagging

2. Black upperparts with white underparts and a narrow white eyebrow

3. Both sexes look similar; juveniles are browner and less sharply marked

Willie Wagtails are agile insect hunters, catching prey both in the air and on the ground. They are territorial and often pair for life. Breeding typically occurs from August to January, with pairs raising multiple broods in a season. The nest is a neat, cup-shaped structure made from grass and spider webs, placed on a horizontal branch or artificial structure. Females usually lay two to four eggs, and both parents share incubation duties for about two weeks. Chicks fledge after another two weeks, and parents may start a new clutch soon after, sometimes raising up to four broods in a season.

Willie Wagtails are found throughout mainland Australia, as well as in New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and parts of eastern Indonesia. They thrive in a wide range of open and semi-open habitats, including parks, gardens, farmland, woodland edges, and wetlands, but are usually absent from dense rainforests. They are commonly seen in urban areas, often perching on fences or low branches, and are quick to approach people and follow lawn mowers or livestock to catch disturbed insects

The Willie Wagtail features in many Aboriginal cultures, often regarded as a gossip or messenger bird. In some regions, it is seen as an eavesdropper or bringer of news, and stories about its behaviour reflect its bold and inquisitive nature.