There are a total of 13 species of wagtail birds. Wagtail birds by name are defined as small songbirds and typically live by the water. The Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis) derives its name after its unique tail which habitually jerks up and down. The Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis) bird is commonly seen in parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia including Japan and other regions some of which are migratory while others are not. The Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis) bird is a species native to Japan and other regions.The Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis) is a black and white bird with a white upper throat and chin. They are small in size and widely seen in most regions of Japan hence, the name. This bird prefers residing in regions close to gravel and wetlands where they may find prey easily. The Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis) is often confused with the white wagtail however they are completely different species. The Japanese wagtail forages on the ground and in some instances in the water while the white wagtail forages on dry ground and other such differences.Read on to know more and if you find this article interesting, don’t forget to read pelican facts and swallow tailed kite facts too.
Fun Japanese Wagtail Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Insects
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 4-6 eggs
How much do they weigh? 0.055 lb (25 g)
How long are they? 6.5-7.5 in (16.5-19 cm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Black and white
Skin Type Feathers
What were their main threats? Climate Change
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Wetlands, Urban Areas, And Arable Land
Locations Japan
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Motacilla
Class Aves
Family Motacillidae
Japanese Wagtail Interesting FactsWhat type of animal is a Japanese wagtail?The Japanese western wagtail (Motacilla grandis) is a common type of bird that belongs to the kingdom Animalia and genus Motacilla, order Passeriformes seen in regions of Japan and Korea.What class of animal does a Japanese wagtail belong to?The Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis) is a common type of bird that belongs to class Aves, family Motacillidae, and genus Motacilla. How many Japanese wagtails are there in the world?The Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis) population size is unknown and their population is considered stable currently.Where does a Japanese wagtail live?The Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis) habitat range is seen residing primarily in regions including Japan and Korea and also seen in Honshu to Kyushu. Both males and females hold their territories throughout the year and are seen near regions where they can find their prey easily.What is a Japanese wagtail’s habitat?The Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis) lives in a range including wetlands mostly and is also seen in urban to semi-urban regions including a farm, rivers, and a house. They are seen in most regions of Japan and prefer areas where there is gravel or sand as well. Who do Japanese wagtails live with?Japanese wagtails are solitary birds however, they can be found in groups during mating season. They coexist with other wild species. Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis) species of birds reside close to where they find appropriate food and shelter.How long does a Japanese wagtail live?Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis) birds’ average lifespan is three years. These small species of birds have shorter lifespans owing to the fact that they have various threats including climate change and predators.How do they reproduce?The Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis) bird breeding season begins in March to June. Some adult pairs can be spotted breeding twice a year apart from March to June as well. Adult male and female Japanese wagtails are known to be monogamous and bigamous in rare instances. Mating calls include the male on top of a stone or at the end of a branch. Both males and females fight out with other males and females respectively as a ritual. Nests are built by February. Nests are built under fallen grass, riverbeds, or trees.Females are primarily involved in nest building and males too are partially involved however, in most activities both parents are involved equally. Post mating the females lay four to six eggs. The incubation period lasts 13-14 days. The juvenile’s description is similar to other small birds who are born featherless initially and develop over time. What is their conservation status?The Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis) bird is classified as a Least Concern species by the International Union For Conservation Of Nature (IUCN) red list. The IUCN red list contains a range map along with the scientific name of most animals. Their distribution is largely concentrated in Japan and Korea. Japanese Wagtail Fun FactsWhat do Japanese wagtails look like?The Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis) is black and white in color. Males and females of the species are similar in appearance however they have a different back i.e. the male’s back is black in color while the female’s back has a slightly gray tinge to it. Wagtails have a small white patch under the bill and their eyebrows are connected to the forehead, a white belly, wings white throat, outer tail feathers, and brow.They have a white arc behind the eye with which they are able to see even the smallest of insects. They see not just insects with their eye but also look out for possible predators. They use their eye to spot prey while in flight as well as while resting. Their feet are thin and dark-colored. They are spotted mostly in Japan and Korea. Juveniles are small in size and usually born without feathers.How cute are they?The Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis) is an extremely cute species of songbirds and definitely a must-see for every birdwatcher. Its distribution is easily found in Japan and Korea. It is rare to spot such birds in one spot for a long duration nonetheless you should try to see these species for yourself. The tail is one to look out for to spot them easily since it wags its tail - a unique identifying feature of this Japanese wagtail bird and other wagtails.How do they communicate?The Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis) from Japan communicates using both songs and calls. Its voice is produced through its throat. Songs include ‘pyijui, ‘jui-jui-jui-jui’, ‘ji-ji-ji’ and ‘giji-ji-ji-ji’, and calls include a ‘jee’ or ‘jijee’. During a territorial dispute, these birds are known to be loud and call ‘jui-jui’ or ‘jijijui’. They also communicate when they near mating season.How big is a Japanese wagtail?The Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis) bird, endemic to Japan and Korea, is 6.5-7.5 in (16.5-19 cm) which is five times bigger than the bee hummingbird which is 2.4 in (6.1 cm) tall.How fast can a Japanese wagtail fly?The Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis) can fly at relatively good speeds and there seems to be a wag not just in its calls and songs but also in its flight pattern i.e. an undulating wave. It searches for prey while in flight as well.How much does a Japanese wagtail weigh?The Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis) weighs 0.055 lb (25 g). This depends on its foraging patterns and habitat. Males tend to weigh more than females.What are the male and female names of the species?Adult males and females of the species are not addressed differently. They have common features however, they also have certain physical characteristics which set them apart from each other and help in distinguishing between the two. They also differ in reproductive functions.What would you call a baby Japanese wagtail?A baby Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis) could be referred to as a nestling or as a fry like other baby bird species. The nestlings start fledging by two weeks and are fed by parents until three weeks. They are not seen out in the open and it is difficult to search for them in the wild.What do they eat?The Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis) birds are primarily insectivores and feed on both flying and other insects available in their near habitat including large ants, mayflies, large spiders, and dragonflies. They are also known to feed on small fishes in some instances and also feed on larvae of different kinds in regions near where they stay.Are they poisonous?No, Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis) birds are not poisonous. Their instant response to any sign of danger is their flight instinct. They don’t stay for too long on the ground if they sense the presence of a predator. If you ever spot them, observe them from a distance.Would they make a good pet?Wagtails are rarely adopted as pets however, they are frequent visitors hence chances are you will spot them by rivers or ponds. If you live far away from water bodies you could dig a small pond yourself and hope for a wagtail to arrive by attracting them. Wagtail species native to your region may be different. In the case of the United States, there are four types of wagtails in north America.Did you know…Buckingham Palace supports a wagtail roost. Japanese wagtail roosts can be large in size and can hold as many as 4000 individuals. It is rare to search for such roosts.Poet John Clare caught the birds’ gait well in his poem titles ‘Little Trotty Wagtail’. This is a popular nursery rhyme narrated for kids and makes mention of the wagtail. You could search for the poem online.Are Japanese wagtails endangered?The Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis) is not endangered and is classified as a Least Concern species and is seen in Japan and Korea. The yellow, gray, and pied wagtails are considered endangered species in the United Kingdom owing to their decreasing population.Is a Japanese wagtail a migratory bird?Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis) birds are migratory given that they move as per the changes in climatic conditions. Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis) birds reside in Japan and Korea for most parts but breed in the regions of Honshu to Kyushu. During winter they travel to Tsushima island and the Korean peninsula to avoid the extremes of winter conditions and be able to survive by finding suitable food and shelter. If you too wish to see these particular species do pay a visit to any region native to them or similar species and if you can’t don’t worry you could always learn more about them online through search. You could also look up other similar wagtail species like the yellow wagtail, white wagtail, pied wagtails, the cock wagtails, or other large species native to your region and see them.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our palm warbler facts and arctic tern facts pages.You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Japanese wangtail coloring pages.
What type of animal is a Japanese wagtail?
The Japanese western wagtail (Motacilla grandis) is a common type of bird that belongs to the kingdom Animalia and genus Motacilla, order Passeriformes seen in regions of Japan and Korea.
Fun Japanese Wagtail Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Insects
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 4-6 eggs
How much do they weigh? 0.055 lb (25 g)
How long are they? 6.5-7.5 in (16.5-19 cm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Black and white
Skin Type Feathers
What were their main threats? Climate Change
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Wetlands, Urban Areas, And Arable Land
Locations Japan
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Motacilla
Class Aves
Family Motacillidae
Fun Japanese Wagtail Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Insects
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 4-6 eggs
How much do they weigh? 0.055 lb (25 g)
How long are they? 6.5-7.5 in (16.5-19 cm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Black and white
Skin Type Feathers
What were their main threats? Climate Change
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Wetlands, Urban Areas, And Arable Land
Locations Japan
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Motacilla
Class Aves
Family Motacillidae
Fun Japanese Wagtail Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Insects
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 4-6 eggs
How much do they weigh? 0.055 lb (25 g)
How long are they? 6.5-7.5 in (16.5-19 cm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Black and white
Skin Type Feathers
What were their main threats? Climate Change
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Wetlands, Urban Areas, And Arable Land
Locations Japan
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Motacilla
Class Aves
Family Motacillidae
Fun Japanese Wagtail Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Insects
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 4-6 eggs
How much do they weigh? 0.055 lb (25 g)
How long are they? 6.5-7.5 in (16.5-19 cm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Black and white
Skin Type Feathers
What were their main threats? Climate Change
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Wetlands, Urban Areas, And Arable Land
Locations Japan
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Motacilla
Class Aves
Family Motacillidae
What do they prey on? Insects
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 4-6 eggs
How much do they weigh? 0.055 lb (25 g)
How long are they? 6.5-7.5 in (16.5-19 cm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Black and white
Skin Type Feathers
What were their main threats? Climate Change
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Wetlands, Urban Areas, And Arable Land
Locations Japan
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Motacilla
Class Aves
Family Motacillidae
What do they prey on? Insects
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 4-6 eggs
How much do they weigh? 0.055 lb (25 g)
How long are they? 6.5-7.5 in (16.5-19 cm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Black and white
Skin Type Feathers
What were their main threats? Climate Change
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
What do they prey on?
Insects
What do they eat?
Carnivore
Average litter size?
4-6 eggs
How much do they weigh?
0.055 lb (25 g)
How long are they?
6.5-7.5 in (16.5-19 cm)
How tall are they?
N/A
What do they look like?
Black and white
Skin Type
Feathers
What were their main threats?
Climate Change
What is their conservation status?
Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Wetlands, Urban Areas, And Arable Land
Locations Japan
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Motacilla
Class Aves
Family Motacillidae
Where you’ll find them?
Wetlands, Urban Areas, And Arable Land
Locations
Japan
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Motacilla
Kingdom
Animalia
Genus
Motacilla
Class Aves
Family Motacillidae
