From Opus

Photo by Chaiyan
Rural Chainat District, central Thailand, December 2002

Alternative names: Ashy Swallow-Shrike; Ashy Woodswallow Shrike

Artamus fuscus

[edit] Identification

19cm. A stocky, long-winged bird:

• Heavy silvery bill
• Rounded dark tail broadly white tipped
• Slaty grey on head
• Brownish on back
• Narrow white rump band
• Pinkish grey below with witish vent and wing-linings

Sexes similar. Juveniles are darker and browner and have pale buffy spots above and mottling below. Their bill is dark.
The only Woodswallow in its range.

[edit] Distribution

	Most of the Indian Subcontinent (except northwest and much of Ganges plain) and Sri Lanka east to Burma, south and southeast China (with Hainan), Thailand (except south) and Indochina (Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia). Widespread and fairly common in its range.
	Legend • A. fuscus; year-round Maps/Texts consulted2,3

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].

[edit] Habitat

Open and cultivated areas. Often seen near city edges perched on overhead electric supply cables. Occurs up to 2100m.

[edit] Behaviour

They huddle together early morning to keep warm.
An insectivorous species, obtaining most of its prey in flight. Forages singly, in pairs or small flocks.
Breeding season from March to July, earlier in Sri Lanka. The nest is a shallow cup made of rootlets and other fibrous material. It's placed up to 12m above the ground often in a palm tree, sometimes in tree holes. Lays 2-3 eggs.
Generally a resident species.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
2. Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672
3. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
4. BF Member observations

• List of references

[edit] External Links