(Part of the) common name of some species in the family Motacillidae (order Passeriformes). Other common names used within this family are 'pipit' and 'longclaw'. The members of the family are of medium or small size, usually with a long tail that is constantly in wagging motion, particularly in the wagtails where it is more noticeable because of their longer tails. They have thin, slender bills and strong feet with relatively long toes. Most of the species inhabit grassland or other open country (including swamps and river-banks) and are terrestrial in habits, often walking or running on the ground. They are mainly insectivorous, but also consume spiders, small seeds and small molluscs. The call-notes as well as the song are (as a rule) little varied, consisting of a series of repeated phrases. They have a complete moult in late summer and mostly an incomplete one towards the end of winter (in their winter quarters). Wagtails as a rule have a characteristic pied colour pattern in the plumage, in which grey, black and yellow or green predominate. In most of the wagtails males and females can be distinguished by plumage characters, even in winter (non-breeding) dress. The common Yellow Wagtail is remarkable for its high degree of geographical and individual variation in the colour pattern. They are birds of the Old World, but do not breed in Australia; the Palaearctic wagtails are normally migratory.

Alternative form for wagtails : wagtail.