Wagtails are a regular sight throughout the United Kingdom. Many would immediately recognize these songbirds, yet few know basic ecological information about wagtails. Questions like “What do wagtails eat?” and “Where do wagtails nest?” are not common knowledge.
Fortunately, I’ve set out to address frequently asked questions such as these within this introductory guide to wagtails behavior and tendencies. Although the answers to some questions will vary among the different types of wagtails (UK), you will find that all wagtails are fairly similar in their behaviour. Keep reading to learn all you wish to know about British wagtails!
Table of Contents
What Do Wagtails Eat?
What do wagtails eat? This seems obvious, but take a moment to consider the question for yourself. If someone asked you, “What do wagtails eat?” would you be able to answer?
Well, if you think that wagtails eat seeds or berries then you would be wrong. Instead, insects and other small invertebrates like crustaceans make up the diets of most wagtails. Additionally, wagtails may eat tiny vertebrates such as fish or amphibians.
What Do Pied Wagtails Eat?
Pied Wagtails are the most well-known types of wagtails in UK territories. They are beloved for their seemingly quirky behaviour, and many would enjoy hosting them in their yards. So, do the diets of Pied Wagtails differ from their counterparts – what do Pied Wagtails eat?
Pied Wagtails are insectivorous like other UK wagtails, so you won’t be able to attract them to your yard with seeds. However, having a good diversity of plants in your yard should yield plenty of insects and-in turn—wagtails.
Although this explains what Pied Wagtails eat when the weather is favourable, we know that insects are not plentiful during winter. So, what do Pied Wagtails eat in the winter?
What Do Wagtails Eat In Winter?
Winter is a trying time for many birds given food is often scarce. How do wagtails manage to handle this challenging time of year – what do wagtails eat in winter?
Wagtails do not convert to a diet of seeds during winter. Instead, they continue eating insects despite the fact that they’re harder to find during this season. Some UK residents have had success attracting British wagtails to their yards by offering mealworms.
Where Do Wagtails Nest?
Although birds like Eurasian Blackbirds nest in locations that are frequently quite obvious, UK birders will likely struggle to find a wagtail nest. Why is that – where do wagtails nest?
Well, the exact locations in which wagtails are willing to nest will vary by species, but all wagtail nests are generally hidden well and thus difficult to find. All wagtails in the UK often place their nests near water. Moreover, a British Wagtail nest is typically placed on the ground.
Some may specifically wonder about Pied Wagtail nesting habits – where do Pied Wagtails nest?
Well, Pied Wagtails and Grey Wagtails may place their nests within depressions or holes in the ground near rivers or streams. Pied Wagtails are seemingly the most adaptable nester when considering UK wagtails, as a Pied Wagtail nest may be situated in human structures such as bridges, buildings, or embankments.
Unlike a Pied Wagtail nest, yellow wagtails typically avoid human-dominated areas during the breeding season. So, where do wagtails nest if not near humans? Well, yellow wagtails situate their nests along the ground in clumps of grass within tundra or bog landscapes. This makes a yellow wagtail nest quite difficult to locate.
When Do Wagtails Nest?
Now that you know where wagtails nest, you may be curious about when the nesting process takes place. When do wagtails nest?
Wagtail nesting season will initiate shortly after a pair has established a territory in spring. Male and female wagtails will then jointly begin construction of the nest. Therefore, the nesting season of British wagtails can run from April through August, with some birds having multiple broods within a season.
Do Wagtails Mate For Life?
How loyal are wagtails – do wagtails mate for life? Wagtails are thought to be monogamous during the breeding season, with male and female wagtails pairing up and remaining with one another throughout the breeding season if all goes well. Male and female wagtails split parenting duties rather equally.
While they are fairly loyal when they’re raising a family, they do not necessarily mate with the same individual in subsequent years. Although birds are not opposed to mating with the same partner as the prior year, it seems that they often choose new partners. There are several reasons for this, but the main reason is simply due to the short lifespans of these creatures.
Therefore, the best answer to the question, “Do wagtails mate for life?” is no.
Do Wagtails Migrate?
Some UK birders have had the experience where wagtails are readily found in spring, summer, and autumn, but nowhere to be seen in winter. Why is this – do wagtails migrate?
Yes, some wagtails do indeed migrate, but this is another question that is dependent on a particular wagtail species. For instance, although Grey Wagtails undergo migrations from places like Russia to Maharashtra, they are not migratory in the UK.
How about the familiar Pied Wagtail – do Pied Wagtails migrate? No, Pied Wagtails do not migrate from the United Kingdom. Although some may make short distance movements as seasons change, they remain in the UK for the whole year.
The three remaining wagtail species that appear in the United Kingdom are all migratory, so when do wagtails migrate? Well, the United Kingdom supports prime breeding territory for Western Yellow Wagtails in summer, so they often appear in April and leave by mid-October. Likewise, species such as Citrine and Eastern Yellow Wagtails don’t breed in the UK, but they may stop by during migration in spring or autumn.
Some may ask, “Where do wagtails in the UK spend winter?”. Well, the wagtails that leave the United Kingdom during winter may travel a considerable distance. For instance, Western Yellow Wagtails winter in Central and Southern Africa in places such as Kenya.
Although wagtails are not found in groups larger than their family units during the breeding season, they form sizable congregations in winter. Therefore, if you see a flock of wagtails in the winter, it is likely to be a group of Pied or Grey Wagtails.
Why Do Wagtails Wag Their Tails?
Of course, one of the most well-known habits of wagtails is their tendency to move their tails back and forth as they move around, but why do wagtails wag their tails? While this is charming behaviour, it may be puzzling to some. Let’s get to the bottom of this question – why do wagtails wag their tails?
The exact reason why wagtails wag their tails is not clear. However, there have been many studies that purport to explain this behaviour. Although some suggest that wagtails wag their tails to flush insects, this does not seem likely, as tail wagging occurs when birds are not foraging.
Some believe that tag wagging may help wagtails send a signal to potential mates about their availability. Alas, this theory also has flaws, as immature wagtails who are not sexually mature also wag their tails.
Thus, the primary theory for wagtail tail wagging has to do with predator avoidance. Many believe that British wagtails move their tails around to send a signal to predators. Essentially, their tail wags serve the purpose of telling a predator to not bother attacking them, as they are alert and prepared for such an attack.
How Long Do Wagtails Live?
If you routinely observe wagtails near your house every year, you may hope that you’re consistently hosting the same wagtails. How likely is this scenario – how long do wagtails live?
Well, British wagtails are—unfortunately—not long-lived species. Like many small songbirds, their lives are brief, and they are fortunate to survive until their fifth birthday. However, some lucky birds can live to be more than five years old. It seems that 10 years of age is the upper limit of their potential.