Abstract
Many species of wagging birds — e.g. tail-wagging Common and Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos, A. macularia), some Wagtails (Motacillidae), Forktails (Enicuridae) or body-bobbing Dippers (Cinclidae) — inhabit fast-running streams and it appears that the behaviour is a convergent adaption to this habitat. Possible functions are discussed; the hypothesis is given that birds of fast-running streams benefit due to wagging as an optical intraspecific signal (e. g. in territorial or sexual behaviour). Owing to the unfavourable acoustical situation (noise of the running water) and the linear habitat, vocal signals are presumed to be generally less effective than optical signals. Predictions concerning the European species based on this hypothesis are in agreement with the available evidence in literature.
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