wagtail

Any of various chiefly Eurasian or African insectivorous birds of the family Motacillidae, having a slender body with a long tail that constantly wags.

To flutter; move the wings and tail like a wagtail.

Any bird of the family Motacillidæ (which see): so called from the continual wagging motion of the tail.

Some Similar bird. In the United States the name is frequently given to two birds of the genus Seiurus, the common water-thrush and the large-billed water-thrush, S. nævius and S. motacilla, members of the family Mniotiltidæ, or American warblers. See cut under Seiurus.

A term of familiarity or contempt.

A pert person.

Any one of many species of Old World singing birds belonging to Motacilla and several allied genera of the family Motacillidæ. They have the habit of constantly jerking their long tails up and down, whence the name.

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.

the Indian black-breasted wagtail (Nemoricola Indica).

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.