Nature

By Marj Webber

White-breasted Woodswallows are common breeding inhabitants on Bribie Island. In fact, I see up to 6 birds almost every day, at any time, on the wires outside my front windows at Bongaree. There are 6 species of Woodswallows in Australia, three of which have visited us on rare occasions. The Masked, White-browed and Little Woodswallows have been known to call on us, but only briefly. White-breasted Woodswallows are larger and plumper than others of their species being 16-18 cm in length and weighing 35-46g. Wings are triangular and look quite distinctive when in flight. They are mostly charcoal grey with white breasts and rumps and are the only Woodswallows without white at the tip of their tails. Bills are a bluish colour and feathers are powder-down. Powder-down feathers are feathers that produce substances that are used to clean and waterproof the other feathers. Woodswallows are the only passerines with this feature. They are social birds and huddle together in close rows when perched on wires or branches. Flight is skilled and fast while feeding on the wing for hours, or soaring in thermals, keeping in contact with each other by nasal sounds. Generally, they are seen in groups of 6-50 birds. They can be quite aggressive when disturbed, mobbing enemies to drive them away. Males and females are of similar appearance. They are found in most of Australia except in southern South Australia, Tasmania and large areas of southern and inland Western Australia. Mangroves in coastal areas and locations where there are trees and water are places where they are most likely to be seen, especially in Queensland. In the south, they are mainly nomadic and may go north in winter but in northern areas, they are mostly sedentary. They are also found in PNG, Fiji and the Philippines. Insects caught on the wing are their main food source but occasionally they will eat

WHITE-BREASTED WOODSWALLOW

– Artamus leucorynchus

nectar. Like honeyeaters, they have divided brush-tipped tongues which are not often used but enable them to collect nectar from flowers. If large insects are caught, they are often shifted to the feet while in flight. Sometimes they may feed on the ground or in tree canopies. Large catches are often shared with other members of the group. Females invite males with a courting display by extending their wings over their backs in a V shape and trembling towards the males wagging their tails and making “eep” sounds. Cup-shaped nests are built of grass by both parents in vertical hollows in trees and stumps usually 10-30m from the ground. 3-4 spotted pinkish eggs are laid and are incubated by males and females for about 15 days. Both parents are sometimes helped by other members of the group tend to the young. August to January are their favoured breeding months. Woodswallows are not related to other swallows but are more closely related to Butcherbirds, Magpies and Currawongs. They were first described by Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish Naturalist, in 1771. Their scientific name was derived from ancient Greek words leukos “white” and rhynchos “bill”. Conservation status is secure in all states except Tasmania where White-breasted Woodswallows are not present. Their population seems to be stable with no evidence of decline.