Willie Wagtail

Rhipidura leucophrys

With its bold personality and distinctive tail-flicking dance, this fearless little bird fearlessly chases away eagles and hawks over 100 times its size.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Willie Wagtail is a striking small bird with bold black and white plumage. Its upperparts, including the head, throat, and breast, are jet black, contrasting sharply with its white eyebrows, belly, and outer tail feathers.

Both sexes look alike, with a slender black bill and legs. Juveniles are similar to adults but have a brownish tinge to their black feathers and may show some buff edging on their wing coverts.

Size

Length

19cm to 21.5cm

Wingspan

25cm to 30cm

Weight

17g to 24g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Black White

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Black

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Willie Wagtail can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Willie Wagtail can be found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Willie Wagtail is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Willie Wagtail is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Willie Wagtail can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Willie Wagtail can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Willie Wagtail can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Willie Wagtail is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Willie Wagtail is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Willie Wagtail is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Willie Wagtail is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Willie Wagtail is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Willie Wagtails are found across most of Australia, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and parts of Indonesia. They inhabit a wide range of open habitats, including woodlands, grasslands, and urban areas.

In Australia, they are common in both rural and urban settings, often seen in parks, gardens, and along watercourses. Their adaptability has allowed them to thrive in human-modified landscapes.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 2,800 meters

Climate zones

Tropical, Subtropical, Temperate

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Willie Wagtail. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons