Willie Wagtail
Willie WagtailWillie WagtailWillie WagtailWillie Wagtail

Willie Wagtail

Rhipidura leucophrys

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
20–30% · Possible
overall probability at Blue Mountains National Park
1,293 Verified records at Blue Mountains National Park
January Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The willie wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) (also spelt willy wagtail) is a passerine bird native to Australia, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, the Bismarck Archipelago, and Eastern Indonesia. It is a common and familiar bird throughout much of its range, living in most habitats apart from thick forest. Measuring 19–21.5 cm (7+1⁄2–8+1⁄2 in) in length, the willie wagtail is contrastingly coloured with almost entirely black upperparts and white underparts; the male and female have similar plumage. Three subspecies are recognised; Rhipidura leucophrys leucophrys from central and southern Australia, the smaller R. l. picata from northern Australia, and the larger R. l. melaleuca from New Guinea and islands in its vicinity. Wikipedia →

20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Willie Wagtail sighting in Blue Mountains National Park, based on 1,293 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Blue Mountains National Park

Grey Fantail
LC

Grey Fantail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Rhipidura albiscapa

50–60% · Likely
Rufous Fantail
LC Endemic

Rufous Fantail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Rhipidura rufifrons

5–10% · With luck
Eastern Spinebill
LC Endemic

Eastern Spinebill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris

60–70% · Likely
Australian Magpie
LC

Australian Magpie

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gymnorhina tibicen

60–70% · Likely
Red Wattlebird
LC Endemic

Red Wattlebird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthochaera carunculata

50–60% · Likely
Pied Currawong
LC Endemic

Pied Currawong

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Strepera graculina

50–60% · Likely
Brown Thornbill
LC Endemic

Brown Thornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Acanthiza pusilla

50–60% · Likely
Yellow-faced Honeyeater
LC Endemic

Yellow-faced Honeyeater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Caligavis chrysops

40–50% · Likely
Satin Bowerbird
LC Endemic

Satin Bowerbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ptilonorhynchus violaceus

40–50% · Likely
Eastern Yellow Robin
LC Endemic

Eastern Yellow Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Eopsaltria australis

40–50% · Likely
White-throated Treecreeper
LC

White-throated Treecreeper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cormobates leucophaea

40–50% · Likely
Superb Fairywren
LC Endemic

Superb Fairywren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Malurus cyaneus

40–50% · Likely

📅 Monthly Probability

30–40
Jan
20–30
Feb
20–30
Mar
10–20
Apr
10–20
May
10–20
Jun
10–20
Jul
10–20
Aug
20–30
Sep
20–30
Oct
20–30
Nov
20–30
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
80–90%
2 Kakadu National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
50–60%
3 Flinders Ranges National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
30–40%
4 Grampians National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
30–40%
5 Nitmiluk National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
30–40%
6 Kosciuszko National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
20–30%
7 Great Otway National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
20–30%
8 Blue Mountains National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
20–30%
9 Ningaloo Marine Park 🇦🇺 Australia
10–20%
10 Springbrook National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
10–20%
11 Daintree National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
10–20%
12 Noosa National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
10–20%
13 Booderee National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
10–20%
14 Litchfield National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
10–20%
15 Royal National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
5–10%
16 Wilsons Promontory National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
5–10%
17 Lamington National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
5–10%
18 Lorentz National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Willie Wagtail in Blue Mountains National Park?

About 23% of wildlife watchers report a Willie Wagtail sighting in Blue Mountains National Park, based on 1,293 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Willie Wagtail in Blue Mountains National Park?

January has the highest sighting rate for Willie Wagtail in Blue Mountains National Park in our monthly data.

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