Birds · Passeriformes · Rhipiduridae

Willie Wagtail

Rhipidura leucophrys

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The willie wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) is a passerine bird of the family Rhipiduridae native to Australia, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, the Bismarck Archipelago and eastern Indonesia. It is a very common bird within its range, living in most habitats except dense forest. It measures 19.0 to 21.5 cm long.

Weight

17 g – 25 g

Size

19 cm – 22 cm

Lifespan

12 years

Diet

Insectivore

Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Activity

Irregular activity

Active at irregular times, by day or night depending on circumstances.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Temperate forestFreshwaterGrasslandInsectivore Variable activity In pairs Bird Temperate forest Freshwater Grassland

5countries 56parks

Fun facts

It fans its tail from side to side continuously while foraging, a movement that flushes insects from the vegetation and sends them jumping within reach of its bill.
It sings at night, especially on moonlit nights and in spring, something uncommon among Australian birds and a source of complaint in many residential suburbs.
In several Aboriginal Australian cultures it is regarded as a bringer of news or a gossip who should not be told secrets, and it appears in the traditional stories of numerous nations across the continent.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Open country, grassland, gardens, parks and wetland margins of Australia and New Guinea
Sexual maturity: 12 months
Gestation / incubation: 14 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 3 eggs

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhipidura_leucophrys