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Rhipidura leucophrys
Willie Wagtails (small black and white flycatchers) often spend their days with cattle in the paddocks catching insects stirred up by cattle movement. This shows a symbiotic relationship between the two species. The Willie Wagtail also perches and flies in the face of the larger animal as it picks at flies and other insects that sit near the eyes.
Eastern Australia, grazing paddocks of northern NSW, Willie Wagtail also naturally inhabits forested and woodland areas, and since settlement in gardens and farmland.
Spotted on Oct 16, 2013
Submitted on Dec 16, 2013
5 Comments
Thanks.
Nice capture! Our system can only handle one category for a spotting, however "other" does not include organisms that already have their own category, as in mammals and birds. So there's one of two things that can be done. Choose mammal or bird and be done with it ;-) or make two spottings using the same photographs but focusing on/emphasizing one animal over the other. Unfortunately, that's what we have to do in this situation.
It is my understanding that Bos primigenius is reserved for the (wild) aurochs and that cattle are considered Bos taurus. See http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/13672...
Cheers
Thanks Tom15 and gatorfellows. I'm sure the cows benefit from the insect clearance the birds provide, although this cow seemed a bit irritated at times. The Willie Wagtail was very persistent.
Nice! I like the second photo with the wagtail on the cattle's head.
great photo :)