Woodswallow

Taxobox
name = Woodswallows

---

image_caption = "Dusky Woodswallow".
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Artamidae
subfamilia = Artaminae
genus = "Artamus"
genus_authority = Vieillot, 1816
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = Many, see text

Woodswallows are soft-plumaged, somber-coloured 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.

pecies of Artamus

* Ashy Woodswallow, "Artamus fuscus"
* 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"
* Dusky Woodswallow, "Artamus cyanopterus"
* Little Woodswallow, "Artamus minor"

External links

* [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/familia.phtml?idFamilia=183 Woodswallow videos] on the Internet Bird Collection