The forest wagtail (Dendronanthus indicus) is a medium-sized passerine bird in the wagtail family Motacillidae. It is the only species placed in the genus Dendronanthus, which distinguishes it from all other wagtails (genus Motacilla).
Taxonomy
The species was formally described in 1789 by German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin under the binomial name Motacilla indica. The specific epithet indicus is Latin for "Indian." The genus Dendronanthus was introduced in 1844 by English zoologist Edward Blyth; the name combines Ancient Greek dendron ("tree") with Anthus (the pipit genus). The species is monotypic, with no recognized subspecies.
Description
The forest wagtail measures approximately 18 cm (7.1 in) in length, with a slender body and long tail. The back and crown are olive brown, and the wings are black with two yellow wing bars and white tertial edges. It has a prominent white supercilium (eyebrow stripe) above a dark eye stripe. The underparts are white, marked by two black crescent-shaped bands across the upper breast. The sexes are similar in appearance. Young birds are more yellowish on the underside.
Distinctive Behavior
Unlike other wagtails, which typically wag their tails up and down, the forest wagtail wags its tail sideways. This behavior is reflected in its Japanese name Jokofury-sekirei, meaning "sideways-swinging wagtail." Its call is a single-note "pink pink," often given while on the ground or in flight.
Distribution and Habitat
As both its common and scientific names imply, this is a forest-dwelling species—a distinction from all other wagtails, which prefer open or riparian habitats. It breeds in temperate parts of eastern Asia, including parts of Korea, China (Gansu, Anhui, Hunan), and Siberia. It migrates to winter across tropical Asia, from India to Indonesia, including Sri Lanka. It has been recorded as a vagrant in the Maldives and Australia.
Breeding
The forest wagtail is the only wagtail species that builds its nest in trees, often favoring oaks. The cup-shaped nest is constructed from fine grass, rootlets, moss, and cobwebs, built by the female alone while the male stands guard. The usual clutch is five eggs, incubated by the female for 13 to 15 days. Both parents feed the young, which fledge after 10 to 12 days.
Diet
Like other wagtails, the forest wagtail is insectivorous. It forages both in trees (capturing insects along branches) and on the ground. In Sri Lanka, it is known as gomarita ("dung-spreader") for its habit of searching for maggots in cattle dung.
Conservation Status
The forest wagtail is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
