45 Fur and hair for insulation Moss for insulation Nest ingredients The pied wagtail scours fields, hedgerows, and fences for plant and animal materials. It makes hundreds or perhaps thousands of trips to bring all that it has collected back to the growing nest. Feathers These are collected from the ground, sometimes around fox kills, and from old nests. Wool Tufts of wool are removed from barbed wire. Cattle hair Insulating hair is collected from fences and bushes. Moss Moss traps air and prevents heat loss – essential for the protection of young nestlings. Lichen Lichen from walls and branches helps to camouflage the nest. Horse hair Coarse hair from a horse’s tail helps to form the cup shape. Grass Seed heads and leaves help to structure the nest. Cosy nest Packed with a huge variety of ingredients, the pied wagtail’s nest displays the materials found in the bird’s habitat.