The wagtail gets its name because it wags its tail; a behavior often observed by birdwatchers. The wagtail is named aptly, as it kept wagging its tail while searching for insects.
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Birdwatching Term
Bird enthusiasts use 'wagtail' to identify the bird species; it's a handy term for birdwatching activities. At the birdwatching event, we learned to recognize a wagtail by its distinctive tail movement.
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Native Habitats
Wagtails are often found near water, so the term may evoke imagery of rivers, lakes, or wetlands. Walking along the stream, I saw a wagtail fluttering around the reeds.