Woodswallows
Woodswallows are soft-plumaged, somber-colored 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.
Species of Artamus
- Ashy Woodswallow, Artamus fuscus : The Ashy Woodswallow is found in south Asia. The plumage of this species is pale grey.
- 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 : The Black-faced Woodswallow is a woodswallow. This swallow is 19 cm long. It is the most widespread species in the family Artamidae. They live in Australia, New Guinea and the Sunda Islands, including Timor.
- Dusky Woodswallow, Artamus cyanopterus
- Little Woodswallow, Artamus minor
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