Artamus cinereus
The Black-faced Woodswallow, Artamus cinereus, is a captivating medium-sized passerine, instantly recognizable by its distinctive sooty-black face and throat which contrasts sharply with its smoky-grey underparts and upperparts. Measuring approximately 18-21 cm in length with a wingspan of 32-35 cm, this agile bird exhibits a sleek, streamlined profile. Key identification marks include a pale grey or white rump, a black tail tipped with white, and a striking blue-grey bill with a black tip. R...
This adaptable species primarily inhabits open woodlands, mallee, scrublands, savannas, and agricultural areas, extending into urban parks and gardens. It is generally found from sea level up to moderate elevations, typically below 1000 meters.
Their diet consists primarily of insects, particularly flying species such as moths, beetles, and grasshoppers, which they catch aerially. They also consume nectar from various flowering plants.
The Black-faced Woodswallow is a highly social and diurnal bird, often seen roosting communally in tight huddles, especially during cooler temperatures or at night, a behavior crucial for warmth conservation. Its foraging strategy is predominantly aerial, where it gracefully swoops and glides to ...
The Black-faced Woodswallow is widely distributed across mainland Australia and Tasmania, making it one of the most common and familiar birds in many regions. Its range encompasses almost the entirety of the continent, avoiding only the densest tropical rainforests and the most extreme arid deser...
Least Concern
- Black-faced Woodswallows are famous for their communal roosting, huddling together in tight groups on branches to conserve warmth, sometimes forming piles of dozens of birds. - Despite their 'swallow' name and similar flight patterns, they are not closely related to true swallows (family Hirund...