JAPANESE WAGTAIL
JAPANESE WAGTAIL (Motacilla grandis) – (See images below)
DESCRIPTION: : The Japanese Wagtail adult upper parts, throat and breast are black, under parts are white. Forehead is white and extends into a bar above the eye, which is black. Bill is black. Legs and feet are dark grey. Sexes are similar. Juvenile has more grey plumage. Bird length is about 20 cm (8 inches).
VOICE: https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Motacilla-grandis
NAME: ‘Wagtail’ refers to the tail movements. Latin genus name ‘Motacilla’ means the same. ‘Grandis’ means ‘large’.
HABITAT: Open country, also cities around bodies of water.
DIET: Insects, terrestrial and aquatic.
NESTING: Nest is built in natural or man-made cavity near water. Around four to six eggs are laid, incubated by both parents, who also both feed the chicks.
DISTRIBUTION: Endemic to Japan, year-round resident. Also year-round resident in Korea.
CONSERVATION: Currently not considered at risk.
NOTES: It is not known why this species, and all wagtails, constantly wag their tails.
Japanese wagtails roost in large flocks in trees for the night.
SIMILAR SPECIES: White Wagtail
REFERENCES: Japanese Wagtail – 2005 (Japan Bird Research Association)
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2005/03/24/environment/japanese-wagtail/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_wagtail
DESCRIPTION: : The Japanese Wagtail adult upper parts, throat and breast are black, under parts are white. Forehead is white and extends into a bar above the eye, which is black. Bill is black. Legs and feet are dark grey. Sexes are similar. Juvenile has more grey plumage. Bird length is about 20 cm (8 inches).
VOICE: https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Motacilla-grandis
NAME: ‘Wagtail’ refers to the tail movements. Latin genus name ‘Motacilla’ means the same. ‘Grandis’ means ‘large’.
HABITAT: Open country, also cities around bodies of water.
DIET: Insects, terrestrial and aquatic.
NESTING: Nest is built in natural or man-made cavity near water. Around four to six eggs are laid, incubated by both parents, who also both feed the chicks.
DISTRIBUTION: Endemic to Japan, year-round resident. Also year-round resident in Korea.
CONSERVATION: Currently not considered at risk.
NOTES: It is not known why this species, and all wagtails, constantly wag their tails.
Japanese wagtails roost in large flocks in trees for the night.
SIMILAR SPECIES: White Wagtail
REFERENCES: Japanese Wagtail – 2005 (Japan Bird Research Association)
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2005/03/24/environment/japanese-wagtail/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_wagtail
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| Japanese wagtail juvenile, by Alpsdake |
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| Japanese wagtail parent feeding young photo by Alpsdake, Japan |
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| Japanese wagtail, Japan, by nubobo |
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| Japanese wagtail, Kamakura, Japan |
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| Japanese wagtail, Onda River, Japan |