The nice thing about being a bird painter and living in the country is that there is no shortage of subjects in and around your home and garden. One of the birds that gives us enduring pleasure is the perky Willie Wagtail. They are one of a group of four flycatchers of the Fantail family (Genus Rhipidura). Willie is one of the most widespread and well-loved of all Australian birds. Conspicuous for its cocked tail and jerky movements - it is often to be found around cattle and sheep - sometimes perching on the heads of these companions the better to spy flies flushed out by the grazing animals. This particular fellow was doing just that - perched between the horns of a dairy cow. They will also have feisty set-to's with larger birds - particularly Australian Magpies and Magpie Larks.