Wagtail

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Wagtail \Wag"tail`\, n. (Zool.)
     Any one of many species of Old World singing birds belonging
     to {Motacilla} and several allied genera of the family
     {Motacillidae}. They have the habit of constantly jerking
     their long tails up and down, whence the name.
     [1913 Webster]


  
     {Field wagtail}, any one of several species of wagtails of
        the genus {Budytes} having the tail shorter, the legs
        longer, and the hind claw longer and straighter, than do
        the water wagtails. Most of the species are yellow
        beneath. Called also {yellow wagtail}.
  
     {Garden wagtail}, the Indian black-breasted wagtail
        ({Nemoricola Indica}).
  
     {Pied wagtail}, the common European water wagtail ({Motacilla
        lugubris}). It is variegated with black and white. The
        name is applied also to other allied species having
        similar colors. Called also {pied dishwasher}.
  
     {Wagtail flycatcher}, a true flycatcher ({Sauloprocta
        motacilloides}) common in Southern Australia, where it is
        very tame, and frequents stock yards and gardens and often
        builds its nest about houses; -- called also {black
        fantail}.
  
     {Water wagtail}.
     (a) Any one of several species of wagtails of the restricted
         genus {Motacilla}. They live chiefly on the shores of
         ponds and streams.
     (b) The American water thrush. See {Water thrush}.
  
     {Wood wagtail}, an Asiatic wagtail; ({Calobates sulphurea})
        having a slender bill and short legs.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  wagtail
       n : Old World bird having a very long tail that jerks up and
           down as it walks