Willie-wagtail is among the most widespread of Australian birds. It lives in gardens, open country, and cleared areas in forests. Willie-wagtails also live in New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. They are black-and-white birds about 8 inches (20 centimeters) long. They fan their tails continuously as they dart about on the ground, catching flies and other insects. They make neat cup-shaped nests in trees or under verandas. Early settlers in Australia gave the birds their name because they resembled the wagtails of Europe. However, the willie-wagtail is not closely related to true wagtails.
