noun
Japanese wagtail
A bird species (Motacilla grandis) native to Japan; often seen near water.
川辺でセグロセキレイを見つけた。
I spotted a Japanese wagtail by the riverside.
Standard katakana spelling for this bird name.
Kanji spelling is rare and mostly used in scientific or formal contexts; the word is usually written in kana.
Compound of 背黒 (seguro, 'black-backed') and 鶺鴒 (sekirei, 'wagtail'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the name describes the bird's appearance.