Birds by Name – W

Waxwing

The Waxwing, or Bohemian Waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus, is quite a podgy bird, slightly smaller than a starling, and has a very prominent crest. It is reddish-brown with a black throat, a small black mask round its eye, yellow and white in the wings and a squarish, yellow-tipped tail.

Waxwings breed in coniferous forests throughout most northern parts of Europe, Asia and western North America.

They eat fruits and berries.

Order: Passeriformes
Family: Bombycillidae
Genus: Bombycilla
Species: B. garrulus

White Wagtail

The White Wagtail, Motacilla alba, is a small passerine bird in the wagtail family Motacillidae, which also includes the pipits.

Wagtails, who really do wag their tails like mad, like open ground, particularly near water, and can often be found in urban areas.

In the UK, the similar Pied Wagtail, Motacilla yarrellii, has more black on the head, neck and throat.

Order: Passeriformes
Family: Motacillidae
Genus: Motacilla
Species: M. alba

Wigeon

The Wigeon is a small to medium-sized dabbling duck in the genus Anas. It has a round head and small bill. The head and neck of the male are chestnut brown, the forehead is yellow, the breast is pinky and the body is grey. In flight they show white bellies and males have a large white wing patch.

Wigeons are quite happy to hybridise, as are Mallards, so watch out for some interesting crosses.

Wigeons eat various sorts of aquatic plants, roots and grasses.

Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Anas
Subgenus: Mareca

Wood Duck

The Wood Duck or Carolina Duck, Aix sponsa, is a colourfiul, a medium-sized perching duck from North America. Adult males are between 47 and 54 centimetres long and have a wingspan of between 66 and 73 centimetres.

As might be noted from the colouring, it shares its genes with the Asian Mandarin Duck, Aix galericulata. The females are not as colourful as the males.

Wood Ducks nest in trees and when the ducklings leave the nest, they have reportedly been known to jump from a height of over 80 metres without injuring themselves. The parents try to build their nests in trees over water to give the little ones a soft(ish) landing.

Wood Ducks mainly eat berries, acorns, and seeds, but will also eat insects.

Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Aix
Species: A. sponsa

Wren

The Eurasian Wren, Troglodytes troglodytes, is a very small bird and the only member of the wren family Troglodytidae found outside the Americas. In Europe it is more commonly known simply as the Wren.

It occurs throughout Europe and part of Asia from northern Iran and Afghanistan across to Japan. It is only migratory in the northern parts of its range.

The Wren is a tiny brown bird, almost rounded, with a fine bill, fairly long legs and toes, very short round wings and a short, narrow tail. For such a small bird it has a very loud voice!

Wrens mainly eat insects and spiders.

Order: Passeriformes
Family: Troglodytidae
Genus: Troglodytes (disputed)
Subgenus: T. (Nannus)
Species: T. troglodytes