General

White-breasted Woodswallow (Palau): Small woodswallow with brown-gray hood and upperparts. Black-gray lores, wings, and tail. Breast, belly, and vent are white. Black eye. Medium-length, rather heavy, blue-gray bill with black tip. Long, pointed wings. Short, blue-gray legs and feet. Short, slightly cleft tail. Feeds on insects and nectar. Forages by waiting on a high perch and then flying out to catch prey with gliding flight.

Breeding and Nesting

White-breasted Woodswallow (Palau): Three to four brown-white eggs with brown speckles are laid in an open, cup-shaped nest constructed with rootlets, twigs, and grass. The nest is unlined and built in the fork of a tree, in a tree cavity, or in a human-made structure. Old nests of other bird species can also be used. Both sexes incubate for 16 days.

Foraging and Feeding

White-breasted Woodswallow (Palau): Feeds on insects and nectar. Forages for insects by waiting on a tall snag or other high perch, and flying out to catch prey with soaring, gliding flight. It Takes feeds on nectar by probing flowers with its tongue while perched.

Vocalization

White-breasted Woodswallow (Palau): Calls often emitted during flight. May produce a "prit prit" or "aerk aerk" scolding call. Also produces chattering song and mimicry of other bird species.

Similar Species

Asian House-Martin has a much smaller bill, and a white throat. Barn Swallow has a much smaller bill, a rufous forehead and throat, and tail streamers.