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Willie Wagtail

Rhipidura leucophrys

Floor
5" × 5"
Interior height
4"
Mount height
4–10 ft
Breeds
Jul–Feb (S hemisphere late winter through summer)
Broods / yr
2–4
Cool Facts

Things you didn't know about the Willie Wagtail

01

Willie Wagtails are bold, fearless birds famous for harassing creatures many times their size — including eagles and humans.

02

Their cup nest is woven from spider web silk, an unusually delicate construction for an Australian bird.

03

Aboriginal Australian cultures feature the Willie Wagtail in many stories — often as a clever messenger or trickster.

Attract Them

How to bring the Willie Wagtail to your yard

Willie Wagtails are easy backyard residents in Australia. Open lawn, water, and a sheltered ledge usually do it.

Food

Insects from lawns; they catch flies and small flying insects with aerial sallies.

Box placement

An open shelf 2–4 m up under a covered porch or pergola; they often choose horizontal beams or low branches.

Water

Bird bath. They bathe daily.

Cover & landscaping

Open lawn surrounded by scattered trees and shrubs — they want hunting visibility plus shelter.

Avoid

Don't disturb the spider-silk nest; it's surprisingly delicate.

Range & Habitat

Where you'll find them

One of the most familiar Australian birds — found in nearly every habitat on the continent.

By region
  • Australia

    Year-round resident across the entire continent.

  • New Guinea

    Resident throughout.

  • Indonesia & Solomon Islands

    Resident populations on many islands east through the Solomons.

Habitat preferences

Open and semi-open habitats — pastures, lawns, parks, woodland edges, suburban yards. They prefer ground with short grass for foraging.

gardens parks open country horizontal branches
Approximate range centroids — see the regional breakdown above for the specifics
Fledge Kit

The right house for the Willie Wagtail

Open-Front Series

Open Shelf — Small

No entrance hole, no front wall — just a sheltered ledge. Includes drainage and the integrated mounting tab.

See the full lineup
Seasonal Care

When to install. When to clean.

Install by
By June (austral winter)
Cleaning
March

Resident year-round across most of Australia. Among the most prolific Australian songbirds — one pair can fledge 3–4 successful broods per season.