1993
DOI: 10.1071/mu9930284
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The Foraging Behaviour of the Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys: Why Does it Wag its Tail?

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Cited by 14 publications
(12 citation statements)
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“…Wing-flashing and tail-wagging appear to be complementary activities for wagtails. The function of these behaviours is not clear, although it is widely thought that such movements flush insects from the ground, facilitating their capture (Goodwin 1967;Jackson and Elgar 1993;Jablonski 1996). While these behaviours may aid in balance or perform an inter-or intra-specific signalling function (Jablonski 1996), several lines of evidence from this study suggest that, for wagtails, they are primarily associated with foraging.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 74%
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“…Wing-flashing and tail-wagging appear to be complementary activities for wagtails. The function of these behaviours is not clear, although it is widely thought that such movements flush insects from the ground, facilitating their capture (Goodwin 1967;Jackson and Elgar 1993;Jablonski 1996). While these behaviours may aid in balance or perform an inter-or intra-specific signalling function (Jablonski 1996), several lines of evidence from this study suggest that, for wagtails, they are primarily associated with foraging.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 74%
“…While these behaviours may aid in balance or perform an inter-or intra-specific signalling function (Jablonski 1996), several lines of evidence from this study suggest that, for wagtails, they are primarily associated with foraging. First, the rate of tail-wagging was negatively correlated with light intensity and may reflect differences in the startle and flight response of insects under different contrasts of light (see also Jackson and Elgar 1993). Insects may be less easily startled by the shadow of a bird under low light intensities, so wagtails should wag their tails more frequently to maintain a constant rate of food intake.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
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“…For example, Willie Wagtails ( Rhipidura leucophrys ) rapidly move their tail from side‐to‐side when foraging for insects on the ground. Such movements may aid in prey capture because the shadows cast by the wagging tail create rapid changes in light intensity that could startle and flush ground‐dwelling insects (Jackson and Elgar 1993). Moorhens ( Gallinula chloropus ) flick their tails up and down to reveal a contrasting rump patch (Wood 1974), and the rate of tail‐flicking increases when a predator is detected.…”
mentioning
confidence: 99%