White-browed Woodswallow

Images ©:
Bob Winters | Bob Winters

Artamus superciliosus

Small bird, up to 23 cm. Dark in colour. Face and chin are black. Underparts blue-grey. Lower breast to undertail is a rich chestnut brown. Underwings and undertail are pale whitish-grey, with white tail tips. Females are duller than males, with a browner body and pink to fawn underparts.

Details
Type
Bird
Group
Animals
Woodswallow
Biology

Breeding season: August to December. Clutch size is two to three. Builds a loose shallow nest from twigs, grasses and roots which is placed in a tree fork, hollow stump or fence post, about 1 m to 6 m above the ground. Both sexes build the nest, incubate the eggs and feed the young.
Distinctive Markings

White eyebrow. This species is the most 'colourful' of all the woodswallows.
Taxonomy
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Artamidae
Genus
Artamus
Species
superciliosus

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

Woodswalllows roost together in tight clusters at night, as well as during cold weather and storms. Like other woodswallows, this species has a divided, brush-tipped tongue that can be used to feed on nectar from flowers. They are nomadic, and somewhat migratory as they move north in autumn and south in spring.

Interesting Facts
Diet

Omnivire. Feeds on insects and nectar.
Habitat

Found in a wide range of inland habitats, from eucalypt forests and woodlands to dry heaths and spinifex.
Native Status
Native to Australia
Audio
Sounds
Musical "chep, chep", also soft chattering, harsh scoldings and some mimicry.