Dendronanthus indicus
The Forest Wagtail, Dendronanthus indicus, is a distinctive passerine bird belonging to the monotypic genus Dendronanthus within the wagtail and pipit family Motacillidae. Averaging about 18 cm (7 inches) in length, this slender bird boasts olive-brown upperparts, pristine white underparts, and two prominent white wing-bars, often appearing as a double band. Its most unique field mark, and the source of its common name, is its constant tail wagging motion, which is side-to-side rather than th...
This species primarily inhabits evergreen, deciduous, and mixed forests, including secondary growth and plantations. It typically occurs from foothills up to mid-elevation montane forests.
Forest Wagtails primarily feed on insects and small invertebrates, including caterpillars, beetles, and flies. They forage by gleaning from foliage and bark, as well as by making short aerial sallies to catch flying insects.
Forest Wagtails are diurnal and largely solitary or found in pairs, particularly during the breeding season. They are highly arboreal, spending most of their time gleaning insects from leaves, twigs, and bark, often in the canopy or mid-story, a behavior distinct from other ground-dwelling wagtai...
The Forest Wagtail has an extensive breeding range across East Asia, primarily inhabiting the temperate forests of the Russian Far East, the Korean Peninsula, the Japanese Islands (Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu), and northeastern China. Its breeding distribution also extends southwest into the eastern ...
Least Concern
- The Forest Wagtail is the only species in its genus, Dendronanthus, making it a truly unique lineage among wagtails. - Unlike other wagtails that bob their tails up and down, the Forest Wagtail wags its tail distinctly side-to-side, almost like a pendulum. - It is the most arboreal of all wagta...