White-browed woodswallow

White-browed woodswallow
male with spider
female with spider
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Artamidae
Genus: Artamus
Species:
A. superciliosus
Binomial name
Artamus superciliosus
(Gould, 1837)

The white-browed woodswallow (Artamus superciliosus) is a medium-sized (~19 cm) passerine bird endemic to Australia.[2] The white-browed woodswallow has very distinctive plumage consisting of white brow over a black head with the upper body being a deep blue-grey and with a chestnut under body.[2] The females are paler then the males.[3] The white-browed woodswallow has a bifurcated (divided) tongue like most woodswallows.[4]

White-browed woodswallows are highly nomadic travelling in pairs to flocks from hundred to thousands of birds.[4] They often wander irregularly around inland Australia, usually heading north for winter in the Northern Territory and central Queensland, and south in spring for nesting.[3] White-browed woodswallows regularly associate with flocks of the masked woodswallow Artamus personatus.[4]

Male, Thargomindah SW Queensland

Distribution

The white-browed wood-swallow is found throughout Australia with higher concentrations in central New South Wales.[3] According to the IUCN Redlist, wood-swallow are considered least of concern.[5]

Ecology and habitat

They inhabit margins of rainforests, woodlands, inland/coastal scrubs, golf courses, vineyards, suburban streets and arid areas of Australia.[2] They make a ‘tchip-tchip’ call similar to masked woodswallows.[3][2]

Reproduction

Breeding occurs between August and December or after rain.[2] The species nests in shrubs, forks of trees, hollow stumps or posts, the nest is usually made of twigs, grass and rootlets.[3][2] The eggs are white/grey, spotted, or blotched brown-grey.[2] A clutch will usually consist of 2 to 3 eggs.[2]

Diet

White-browed woodswallows feed on nectar when blossoms are available but mainly feed on insects.[2]

References

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Artamus superciliosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22706324A94063104. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22706324A94063104.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Prizzey, Graham; Knight, Frank (1980). Prizzey, Sarah (ed.). The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia (9 ed.). Sydney: Collins. p. 418.
  3. ^ a b c d e Morcombe, Michael (2011). The Michael Morcombe eGuide to Australian Birds. Steve Parish Publishing.
  4. ^ a b c Simpson, Ken; Day, Nicolas (1993). Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. Melbourne: Lloyd O'Neil. pp. 252, 328.
  5. ^ "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
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