White Wagtail: a two-minute wildlife lesson

At the Seaside · day 5 of 7

Five facts

1. One white wagtail nest was found inside a walrus skull. Usually they nest in holes, walls, bridges or buildings.
2. Where they can, white wagtails nest in beaver dams, and even inside the nests of golden eagles.
3. Non-migratory white wagtails keep hunting insects all winter, unlike most temperate insectivores.
4. White wagtails breed as far north as 75°N, but avoid Arctic zones where July stays below 4 °C.
5. An estimated 130 to 230 million white wagtails live worldwide.

The quiz

1. Where was a white wagtail once found nesting?

• Inside a walrus skull (correct)
• Inside a whale rib
• In a polar bear den
• In a golden eagle's beak

One nest was found inside a walrus skull.

2. Inside which bird's nests have white wagtails been found nesting?

• Owls
• Herons
• Golden eagles (correct)
• Swans

They nest in beaver dams and even in golden eagle nests.

3. What do non-migratory white wagtails hunt all winter?

• Insects (correct)
• Seeds
• Small fish
• Frogs

They keep hunting insects all winter.

4. How far north do white wagtails breed?

• 35°N
• 75°N (correct)
• 55°N
• 95°N

They breed as far north as 75°N.

5. How many white wagtails are estimated to live worldwide?

• 13 to 23 million
• 1.3 to 2.3 million
• 1.3 to 2.3 billion
• 130 to 230 million (correct)

An estimated 130 to 230 million live worldwide.

More about the White Wagtail

Same week

All lessons

Nature documentaries