Common
name: White-browed Wagtail
Scientific name: Motacilla maderaspatensis
Scientific name: Motacilla maderaspatensis
Photo shot at: Roof top of Vaigai men’s hostel
Photo credit: B. S. Karthikeyan
The White-browed Wagtail or Large Pied Wagtail is a
medium-sized bird which is well adapted to urban environment bird and it
is the largest member of the wagtail family. The specific name Motacilla maderaspatensis is derived
from the Indian city of Madras (Chennai). They are patterned with
attractive black above and white below with a prominent white brow, shoulder
stripe and outer tail feathers. They are common in small water bodies and have
adapted to urban environments where they often nest on roof tops. They are
insectivorous like other wagtails. Nestlings were mainly fed with Orthopterans,
Caterpillars, Spiders, Stayphylinid beetles and pentatomid bugs.