Willie Wagtail

Also known as Black-and-white Fantail, Shepherd's Companion

Willie wagtails are hyperactive insectivores instantly recognizable by their bold black-and-white plumage and restless, side-to-side tail-wagging motion. Highly territorial and famously fearless, these spirited songbirds relentlessly mob much larger animals, including dogs, hawks, and livestock, to defend their turf or flush out hidden insects. They thrive near humans in parks and farmland, often singing late into moonlit nights during the spring breeding season.