'WALTER', Willie Wagtail original artwork

About this bird:
The Willie Wagtail is the largest and most well-known of the Australian fantails, found throughout mainland Australia in most habitats, apart from thick forest. Almost always on the move and predominantly on the ground, they’re rarely still for more than a few moments during the day. Even while perching, it will flick its tail from side to side ‘wagtail’. While in paddocks, they often perch on livestock and kangaroos, diving onto the insects disturbed by them. The distinctive white eyebrow of the male wagtail is not just a fashion statement – it helps him attract a mate. Rival males show aggression by expanding their eyebrows during a territorial dispute. The Willie Wagtail can be quite fearless in defence of its territory; it will harry not only small birds but also much larger species such as magpies, kookaburras and the wedge-tailed eagle. It has also been known to attack pets, humans and even snakes who approach its nest too closely, however, it has responded well to human alteration of the landscape and is a common sight in urban lawns, parks, and gardens. The Willie Wagtail is very ‘chatty’ and has a number of distinct vocalisations that are a familiar sound of the Australian bush. It is widely featured in Aboriginal folklore; the Narrunga People of the Yorke Peninsula, regard the Willie Wagtail as the bearer of bad news. It was thought that it could steal a person’s secrets while lingering around camps eavesdropping, so women would be tight-lipped in the presence of one. The people of the Kimberley held a similar belief that the Willie Wagtail would inform the spirit of the recently departed if living relatives spoke badly of them. Conservation Status: Secure.