What do wagtails eat

But why do wagtails wag their tails in their first place? However, because tail-wagging is also associated with activities such as preening, it is unlikely to be simply a means of flushing prey from cover. In the coldest season, adult males have feeding territories. When food is scarce they will defend them vigorously and chase off any intruders. However, if there is plenty of food around, they will let females and first-winter males, but not other adult males, forage nearby.

Most of the time, females and first-winter males feed together in flocks. Most pied wagtails in the UK are resident, but in the winter, pied wagtails that occupy northern upland areas will vacate them and move south. They can migrate as far south as North Africa to escape the cold.

Those that live in the northern parts of the UK often migrate south of the UK in the winter, but they can go as far as North of Africa to avoid the cold months. They usually flock together. Got a question for us? What should I feed Pied Wagtails? Buy pied wagtail food! Where does the Pied Wagtail live? Where do Pied Wagtails nest?

Hi, thank you for replying so quickly, unfortunately I have tried grated cheese but he ignores it, I also tried finely cut bacon trying to make that look like worms, turned his nose up at that too! I have chopped peanuts, seed mix and fat balls out there too which is very popular with the chaffinches, starlings, sparrows and blue tits. I am mystified, there must be an alternative food source other than insects for pied wagtails, after all there are few insects around in most winters, it seems I haven't found it yet.

Thank you again for trying to help though, it is very kind of you. In reply to gran :. Sorry pressed wrong button.

Re the pied wagtail, i too have one visiting my garden and like you, was wondering what to feed it. I think once the other birds break up food it manages to find the smaller crumbs. Do you have any family or friends who could maybe get some insecty nibbles from a pet store or such like until your order gets to you gran.

In reply to dov :. Thanks for replying to my post, I am hoping that he is finding something, at the end of my tether trying to think of substitutes for the worms. Unfortunately, I have no- one who could get to the shops for me so I am stuck until the meal worms arrive. He is such a delightful bird, as I'm sure you know from the experience with your own little visitor. I think it's the way he come dashing over every time I try something new, only to leave it which is the worst thing.

Don't you find that they are such little characters wild birds? The forecast here is dire for the week so he is going to have to settle for one of the things I have put out, I'm sure he won't starve himself, at least I hope not!

Thanks again for the advice. It would appear that very finely grated cheese does the trick. UK Breeding Around , breeding pairs. What should I feed Pied Wagtails? Chopped Peanuts. View Add to Basket. Product added to basket Checkout Continue shopping. Live Mealworms. Sunflower Heart Chips. Behaviour traits of Pied Wagtails In its breeding habitat and when feeding, Pied Wagtails will typically walk through very short vegetation such as a grazed field in order to disturb insects, and then either catch them on the ground or quickly fly up to catch them as the insect tries to make a getaway.