A group of passerine birds known as wagtails belong to the family Motacillidae and the genus Motacilla. Their distinctive tail pumping behavior is the source of both the common name and the genus name. In the Old World, wagtails are slender, frequently colorful, and ground-feeding insects that live in open spaces. Wagtail species, some of which are entirely or partially migratory, breed throughout Africa, Europe, and Asia.
Paddy Watch Standing on the paddy fields, the wagtail watches carefully.
Ground nesters lay three, four, six, or eight speckled eggs at a time, often in rock crevices on steep walls or banks. The characteristic that has earned the birds their popular name is their almost continual tail wagging, which is one of their most noticeable behaviors. Despite widespread observations of the behavior, researchers know little about its causes. They hypothesize that it may indicate submissiveness to other wagtails or help flush out prey.
Clear Focus Perched calmly, the wagtail observes with focus.
In dry areas, the breeding season, which runs from July to December, usually follows rain. During this period, the parents may raise up to four broods. Both parents take turns incubating three cream-colored eggs with brown and gray speckles for 14 days. As the next clutch begins to hatch, they force the young birds out of the nest after about 14 days.
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