Forest Wagtail

Dendronanthus indicus (Gmelin, JF, 1789)

Forest Wagtail, Dendronanthus indicus, is a bird of forested country in eastern Asia, breeding from south-east Russia and north-east China to south-east China and spending the non-breeding season in India, the Philippines and Indonesia. It belongs to the wagtail family Motacillidae and is the only species in its genus. It is set apart from other wagtails by its tree-nesting habit and by moving its tail from side to side rather than in the usual up-and-down way. It is mainly associated with woodland, especially open parts of it such as clearings.

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Motacillidae — Wagtails, Pipits

Breeding range

Palearctic: se Russia and ne China to se China

Nonbreeding range

to India, Philippines and Indonesia