Thesaurus: wagtail

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Definitions

1. n. 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.
2. n. Old World bird having a very long tail that jerks up and down as it walks
3. 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. 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.
4. Any one of many species of Old World singing birds belonging toMotacilla and several allied genera of the family Motacillidæ. Theyhave the habit of constantly jerking their long tails up and down,whence the name. Field wagtail, any one of several species ofwagtails of the genus Budytes having the tail shorter, the legslonger, and the hind claw longer and straighter, than do the waterwagtails. Most of the species are yellow beneath. Called also yellowwagtail.-- Garden wagtail, the Indian black-breasted wagtail (NemoricolaIndica).-- Pied wagtail, the common European water wagtail (Motacillalugubris). It is variegated with black and white. The name is appliedalso to other allied species having similar colors. Called also pieddishwasher.-- Wagtail flycatcher, a true flycatcher (Sauloprocta motacilloides)common in Southern Australia, where it is very tame, and frequentsstock 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 therestricted genus Motacilla. They live chiefly on the shores of pondsand streams. (b) The American water thrush. See Water thrush.-- Wood wagtail, an Asiatic wagtail; (Calobates sulphurea) having aslender bill and short legs.
5. n. Old World bird having a very long tail that jerks up and down as it walks