Bird of 0th Week, HT09

THE WAGTAIL

In my official capacity as ambassador for the bird world, of course I like every bird absolutely equally. But when I am off-duty, and as a flawed and sadly partial human being, my warmest feelings are reserved for the wagtail.

The best thing about wagtails is the way that they run. This is hard to describe but if you have not seen it for yourself imagine a swift loping motion that manages to be graceful and comical at the same time. When they run their tails wag up and down and this too is funny to watch. Their tails wag pretty much all the time, actually. Perhaps this makes them the dog of the bird kingdom.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=l7u4nsUKppM

There are several sort of wagtails. The most common to Britain is the PIED WAGTAIL, and this is lucky for us because he is also the most handsome and lovable. Arguably. However, the yellow wagtail and the grey wagtail are nice too.

I am finding it quite difficult to gather ACTUAL, SCIENTIFIC information on the wagtail, for two main reasons.
1. The different species of wagtail provide a 'taxonomical nightmare' from which many an unhappy ornithologist has yet to awake.
2. The writers of wagtail information are so overcome by the wagging tail that they fail to mention anything else.

In Oxford, wagtails sometimes hang out in Radcliffe Square, on Holywell Street or in Exeter's quad.