The wagtail did not have the tail from the beginning. This tail originally belonged to the wren, but it happened in this manner. The wagtail was one day invited to the wedding of the lark, and as she felt ashamed to go there without any tail, as she had none, she went to the wren […]
Category: Motacillidae
The Wagtail, the gypsy bird
When God had made the world and all the creatures and man, he gave to each one the food from which they should eat and be satisfied. All the creatures thanked God, and whenever they eat their food they are satisfied, except only the wagtail and the Gipsy who are never satisfied. When God saw […]
The Pipit as an omen in Formosa, the Tayial tribe headhunters
In all important matters omens from birds are consulted by the Mountain People of Formosa. The bird usually selected by the Taiyal tribe is called Shi-ski Rekku, a kind of wagtail. This bird is believed to possess the power of regulating good and ill luck. It is held that, if its warning be neglected, it […]
Bird stories, African Pied Wagtail
It is so called because of its thin legs. It is said that someone who eats it must die. Its nest it used to heal asthma after tattoos are made on the ailer’s chest. In the Tembo tales, this bird was good at singing and the dog was good at dancing. Then one day it […]
Provisioning behaviour in relation to food availability and nestling food demand in the Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta
Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta) Science Article 3 abstract Insufficient food provisioning by parents can reduce growth rate of altricial nestlings, their size and weight at fledging, and also affect survival. Therefore at low food availability, parents should increase their food provisioning effort. In insectivorous Water Pipits Anthus spinoletta prey biomass differed up to 50 times […]
The impact of grazing animals on nesting success of grassland passerines in farmland and natural habitats: a field experiment
Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta) Science Article 1 abstract A study was made of the influence of trampling by grazing animals on the nesting success of real nests (meadow pipit, Anthus pratensis; water pipit, Anthus spinoletta; and skylark, Alauda arvensis) and simulated nests (caps from jam-jars filled by green plasticine) on pasture in the Orlicke Mountains […]
Territory quality and reproductive success: Can water pipits Anthus spinoletta assess the relationship reliably?
Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta) Science Article 2 abstract Variation in avian reproductive success is often caused by differences among territories in food supply, safety from predators and microclimatic conditions at the nest. Yet, in some habitats these components of territory quality, and hence future reproductive success, are difficult to assess at the time of settlement. […]
Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus and Woodlark Lullula arborea – recovering species in Britain?
Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis) Science Article 2 abstract The Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus and Woodlark Lullula arborea are identified as species of conservation concern at both a UK and a European level on account of historical declines in their population sizes and ranges. The UK populations of both species have increased significantly in recent decades and […]
Influences of restock age and habitat patchiness on Tree Pipits Anthus trivialis breeding in Breckland pine plantations
Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis) Science Article 1 abstract The British Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis population has shown a marked decline in recent decades, together with a range contraction that has been most apparent in central and southeast England. In East Anglia, the species is now largely restricted to heathland and, in particular, the conifer plantations […]
Seasonal variation in nest mass and dimensions in an open-cup ground nesting shrub-steppe passerine: The Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris
Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris) Science Article 2 abstract The probability of predation was unrelated to outer nest diameter nor was there any relationship between internal diameter and the presence of unhatched eggs. Wall thickness and nest mass declined as the season progressed but there was no relationship between these variables and the mean environmental temperature […]