Overview

White-breasted Woodswallow (Palau): Small woodswallow, brown-gray hood and upperparts. Black-gray lores, wings, and tail. Breast, belly, and vent are white. Medium, rather heavy, blue-gray bill with black tip. Long, pointed wings. Short, slightly cleft tail. Sexes similar, juvenile has some mottling above, brown-white on breast and eyebrow.

Voice Text

"pirt pirt", "aerk aerk"

• Despite its common name, 'woodswallow' is a misnomer. These birds are not related to true swallows.
• The White-breasted Woodswallow was first described in 1771 by Linnaeus. Its species name derives from Ancient Greek: leucos 'white', and rhynchos 'bill'.
• These birds are highly nomadic, following their flying insect prey and roosting in large flocks.

• Asian House-Martin
• Barn Swallow (Palau)

Woodswallows, Butcherbirds, and Allies (Artamidae)

ORDER

Most of the small birds such as the fantails, monarch-flycatchers, starlings, and woodswallows are members of the one hundred and eighteen families found in the largest taxonomic order of birds; the PASSERIFORMES (pronounced pas-ser-i-FOR-meez).

FAMILY TAXONOMY

The woodswallows, butcherbirds, and related species are placed in the artamidae (pronounced ar-TAM-i-dee), a group of twenty-four species in four genera found in southern Asia, Australasia, and some islands in the Pacific Ocean.

SOUTH PACIFIC-PALAU

Two species of woodswallows in one genus are found in the South Pacific. One species, the White-breasted Woodswallow occurs in Palau.

KNOWN FOR

Members of this family are known for their agile flight, somber plumage, and impaling captured prey on thorns and other sharp objects.

PHYSICAL

Members of the artamidae are small to medium birds with stout, medium beaks (in the case of (woodswallows), and large, strong beaks (butcherbirds and currawongs). They have long wings, medium tails, and short to medium legs.

COLORATION

Members of this family are plumaged in gray, black, and white. One species, the White-browed Woodswallow, also has red-brown underparts.

GEOGRAPHIC HABITAT

Members of this family live in a variety of open and forested habitats.

MIGRATION

Although several woodswallow species make short movements to feed on swarms of flying insects, none of the artamidae are migratory.

HABITS

Members of the artamidae are very social and most species are typically seen in flocks. Woodswallows forage for insects by sallying out from a perch and catching prey in soaring flight, whereas butcherbirds and currawongs catch insects and other small creatures on the ground and from foliage.

CONSERVATION

None of the members of this family are threatened and all species seem to be fairly common in their respective ranges.

INTERESTING FACTS

The woodswallows are one of the few passerines that are capable of soaring for long periods. The members of this family are also one of the only passerines that have powder down feathers. Woodswallows perch very close to each other when flocking. The songs of butcherbirds rank among the most complex of any passerine.

Artist

Chris Vest