Rhipidura leucophrys
Willie Wagtails are common inhabitants of woodland and open country, including suburban parks, schoolyards and other open spaces. They feed mainly on insects found on the ground or in shrubs. They are active birds, tolerant of humans, and their scolding and territorial calls are well known. They sometimes call constantly through moonlit nights during the spring and summer. They are present regularly throughout the year with numbers slightly higher in March/April and September/October. There has been a smooth variation in abundance over the survey period with a slight decline in numbers being evident. There were 50 breeding records from 29 sites mostly beginning in early October, with dependent young from early December to late February. A single complete breeding event takes about seven weeks, so one record of breeding over a 17-week period suggests two consecutive breeding attempts. R=20. BR=24.
