Woodswallow
|
|
| Woodswallows | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Dusky Woodswallow. | ||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
|
Woodswallows are soft-plumaged, somber-coloured passerine birds found in Australia and the islands nearby. Given their moderate size—about the same as a Common Starling—and dull plumage, they are amongst the easiest of birds to observe and recognise. In flight, they look very like large, stiff-winged swallows, and like swallows, they mostly eat flying insects.
Woodswallows are smooth, agile flyers with moderately large, semi-triangular wings. They are among the very few passerines birds that soar, and can often be seen feeding just above the treetops. One sedentary species aside, they are nomads, following the best conditions for flying insects, and often roosting in large flocks.
Although woodswallows have a brush-tipped tongue they seldom use it for gathering nectar.
- FAMILY ARTAMIDAE
- Subfamily Cracticinae: currawongs, butcherbirds, peltops, and Australian Magpie
- Subfamily Artaminae
- Ashy Woodswallow, Artamus fuscus
- Fiji Woodswallow, Artamus mentalis
- White-backed Woodswallow, Artamus monachus
- Great Woodswallow, Artamus maximus
- White-breasted Woodswallow, Artamus leucorynchus
- Bismarck Woodswallow, Artamus insignis
- Masked Woodswallow, Artamus personatus
- White-browed Woodswallow, Artamus superciliosus
- Black-faced Woodswallow, Artamus cinereus
- Dusky Woodswallow, Artamus cyanopterus
- Little Woodswallow, Artamus minor