White-browed woodswallow

The white-browed woodswallow (Artamus superciliosus) is a medium-sized (~19 cm) passerine bird endemic to Australia.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref> 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.<ref name=":0" /> The females are paler then the males.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite book</ref> The white-browed woodswallow has a bifurcated (divided) tongue like most woodswallows.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite book</ref>

White-browed woodswallows are highly nomadic travelling in pairs to flocks from hundred to thousands of birds.<ref name=":2" /> 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.<ref name=":1" /> White-browed woodswallows regularly associate with flocks of the masked woodswallow Artamus personatus.<ref name=":2" />

File:White-browed Woodswallow male.ogv

Male, Thargomindah SW Queensland

Distribution

The white-browed wood-swallow is found throughout Australia with higher concentrations in central New South Wales.<ref name=":1" /> According to the IUCN Redlist, wood-swallow are considered least of concern.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Ecology and habitat

They inhabit margins of rainforests, woodlands, inland/coastal scrubs, golf courses, vineyards, suburban streets and arid areas of Australia.<ref name=":0" /> They make a ‘tchip-tchip’ call similar to masked woodswallows.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />

Reproduction

Breeding occurs between August and December or after rain.<ref name=":0" /> The species nests in shrubs, forks of trees, hollow stumps or posts, the nest is usually made of twigs, grass and rootlets.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> The eggs are white/grey, spotted, or blotched brown-grey.<ref name=":0" /> A clutch will usually consist of 2 to 3 eggs.<ref name=":0" />

Diet

White-browed woodswallows feed on nectar when blossoms are available but mainly feed on insects.<ref name=":0" />

External links

• ABID Images
• White-browed woodswallow videos, photos & sounds on the Internet Bird Collection

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