From Opus

Photo by Tom Tarrant
Newhaven, Northern Territory, Australia, September 2004

Alternative names: Grey Woodswallow; Grey-breasted Woodswallow; White-bellied Woodswallow; White-vented Woodswallow (normani and dealbatus)

Artamus cinereus

[edit] Identification

Photo by The Magpie
Juvenile, Western Australia

18cm

• Grey-brown above
• Black face around base of bill and eyes
• Light grey underparts
• Black tail feathers tipped white
• Bluish bill tipped black
• Black undertail in nominate
• Normani and dealbatus with white vent and undertail-coverts (not black)

Sexes similar. Juveniles are mainly brown, with extensive streaking, buff-brown underparts, pale brown bill.

[edit] Distribution

Photo by The Bosun
Aldinga, South Australia, April 2011

Australia, New Guinea, Lesser Sundas, including Timor.
Widespread and locally common.

[edit] Taxonomy

There are 5 subspecies. The geographical variations of this species are complex and not yet fully understood.

[edit] Subspecies^[1]

• A. c. normani:

• Northern Queensland (south-eastern Cape York Peninsula)

• A. c. dealbatus:

• Eastern Queensland (Burdekin River to Burnett River)

• A. c. melanops:

• Interior of central Western Australia to central Queensland and northern Victoria

• A. c. cinereus:

• South-western Western Australia

• A. c. perspicillatus:

• Eastern Lesser Sundas

An additional subspecies albiventris is generally considered invald^[1]

[edit] Habitat

Open country, open woodlands, around lakes and wetlands.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Diet

The diet includes aerial insects, also some nectar is consumed.
Forages singly or in pairs, also in small groups. Often seen in mixed-species flocks.

[edit] Breeding

Co-operative nesters. The nest is formed by twigs placed low in a small tree, stump or artificial structure. Lays 1 - 5 eggs.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
2. 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
3. Avibase
4. Birds in Backyards

• List of references

[edit] External Links