noun
wagtail; longclaw
Refers to birds of the family Motacillidae, excluding pipits. In everyday use, typically means the white wagtail (Motacilla alba) or Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis).
川の近くでセキレイを見かけた。
I spotted a wagtail near the river.
セキレイは長い尾を上下に振る。
The wagtail bobs its long tail up and down.
Kanji form is rare and difficult; usually written in kana.
Hiragana spelling, also common.
The Japanese name セキレイ (sekirei) is of uncertain origin. The kanji 鶺鴒 are ateji borrowed from Chinese.