Forest Wagtail
Dendronanthus indicus
The Forest Wagtail (Dendronanthus indicus) is a uncommon wagtails and pipit found in 27 countries, weighing about 16 g. The forest wagtail is a medium-sized passerine bird in the wagtail family Motacillidae.
About the Forest Wagtail
The forest wagtail is a medium-sized passerine bird in the wagtail family Motacillidae. It has a distinctive plumage that sets it apart from other wagtails and has the habit of wagging its tail sideways unlike the usual up and down movements of the other wagtail species. It is the only wagtail species that nests in trees. It is found mainly in forested habitats, breeding in the temperate parts of east Asia and wintering across tropical Asia from India to Indonesia.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
This is a distinctive wagtail, the only one placed in the genus Dendronanthus (all other wagtails are placed in Motacilla). The forest wagtail is 18 cm (7.1 in) in length, a slender bird with a long tail. The back and crown are olive brown, and the wings are black with two yellow wing bars and white tertial edges. There is a white supercilium, above a dark stripe through the eye. The underparts are white, apart from a black double breast band. The upper breast band is bib-like while the lower band is often broken. The sexes are similar in appearance.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in February. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Forest Wagtail?
- This is a distinctive wagtail, the only one placed in the genus Dendronanthus (all other wagtails are placed in Motacilla). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Forest Wagtail?
- The Forest Wagtail is a small sized bird weighing about 16 g.
- Where can you see a Forest Wagtail?
- The Forest Wagtail occurs in 27 countries, including India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, China and Cambodia.
- What birds look similar to a Forest Wagtail?
- The Forest Wagtail is most easily confused with the Berthelot's Pipit, the Long-billed Pipit and the Plain-backed Pipit.
- Is the Forest Wagtail endangered?
- The Forest Wagtail is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Forest Wagtail for real
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