Japanese Wagtails are black-and-white birds that live mainly in Japan and nearby East Asia. They walk along streams, pumping their long tails, and have black faces with white eyebrows. They are not regular wild birds in the United States.
Appearance
- Appearance
- Adults are about 8 in (21 cm) long, with a black back and face, white eyebrow, and long black-and-white tail.
Look-alikes
White WagtailMotacilla alba
A White Wagtail usually has more white on the face and no thin, bright white eyebrow. Check a clear photo of the head; young birds can be harder to separate.
Why they get mixed upBoth are long-tailed black-and-white wagtails.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- streams
- rivers
- pond edges
- Range
- It lives mainly in Japan, with records in Korea. It is not a regular wild bird in the United States.
- Seasonal presence
- It stays year-round through much of Japan.
Behavior
- Diet
- It eats insects and spiders around water.
- Activity
- It walks along the water and pumps its tail as it looks for food.
Life cycle
- Breeding season
- In Japan, eggs are laid from March through June.
- Nest
- Pairs nest in gaps around rocks or buildings near water.
- Clutch size
- 4–6 eggs
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction