Definition of Wagtail
Wag´tail`
n.
1.
(Zool.)
Any
one
of
many
species
of
Old
World
singing
birds
belonging
to
Motacilla
and
several
allied
genera
of
the
family
Motacillidæ
.
They
have
the
habit
of
constantly
jerking
their
long
tails
up
and
down
,
whence
the
name
.
Field wagtail
any
one
of
several
species
of
wagtails
of
the
genus
Budytes
having
the
tail
shorter
,
the
legs
longer
,
and
the
hind
claw
longer
and
straighter
,
than
do
the
water
wagtails
.
Most
of
the
species
are
yellow
beneath
.
Called
also
yellow wagtail
.
Garden wagtail
the
Indian
black-breasted
wagtail
(
Nemoricola
Indica
).
Pied wagtail
the
common
European
water
wagtail
(
Motacilla
lugubris
).
It
is
variegated
with
black
and
white
.
The
name
is
applied
also
to
other
allied
species
having
similar
colors
.
Called
also
pied dishwasher
.
Wagtail flycatcher
a
true
flycatcher
(
Sauloprocta
motacilloides
)
common
in
Southern
Australia
,
where
it
is
very
tame
,
and
frequents
stock
yards
and
gardens
and
often
builds
its
nest
about
houses
; -
called
also
black fantail
.
Water wagtail
a
-
Any
one
of
several
species
of
wagtails
of
the
restricted
genus
Motacilla
.
They
live
chiefly
on
the
shores
of
ponds
and
streams
.
b
-
The
American
water
thrush
.
See
Water thrush
.
Wood wagtail
an
Asiatic
wagtail
; (
Calobates
sulphurea
)
having
a
slender
bill
and
short
legs
.
Related Words
genus
Motacilla
,
Motacilla
,
oscine
,
oscine
bird
Search
Word:
Browse
Waggie
Waggish
Waggle
Wagnerian
Wagnerite
Wagon
Wagon boiler
Wagon ceiling
Wagon master
Wagon shoe
Wagon vault
Wagon-headed
Wagon-roofed
Wagonage
Wagoner
Wagonette
Wagonful
Wagonload
Wagonry
Wagonwright
Wagtail flycatcher
Wah
Wahabee
Wahoo
Wai Wu Pu
Waid
Waif
Waift
Wail
Wailer
Waileress
Wailful
Wailingly
Wailment
Waiment
Wain
Wain rope
Wainable
Wainage
Wainbote
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
© 2008
Interapple, Inc.
Cover
