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Little WoodwallowSize: 12-14 cm Weight: 13-21 g |
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Similar |
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Photos |
Race "derbyi"
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
Frontal view of a Little Woodswallow
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Bird Billabong Road, near Arnhem Highway, NT, July 2018]
Frontal view of a Little Woodswallow
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kakadu NP,
NT, in July 2020]
Near-frontal view of a Little Woodswallow
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Buchanan Highway, NT, November 2018]
Near-frontal view of a Little Woodswallow
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Buchanan Highway, NT, November 2018]
Near-lateral view of a Little Woodswallow
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cooloola NP, QLD, December 2017]
Near-lateral view of a Little Woodswallow
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kakadu NP,
NT, in July 2020]
Lateral view of a Little Woodswallow
[Timmallallie NP,
NSW, December 2013]
Lateral view of a Little Woodswallow
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Bird Billabong Road, near Arnhem Highway, NT, July 2018]
Near-dorsal view of a Little Woodswallow
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Bird Billabong Road, near Arnhem Highway, NT, July 2018]
Dorsal view of a Little Woodswallow looking back at the observer
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mary River Wilderness Retreat, NT, in July 2020]
Dorsal view of a Little Woodswallow
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Bird Billabong Road, near Arnhem Highway, NT, July 2018]
Ventral view of a Little Woodswallow
[Timmallallie NP,
NSW, December 2013]
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Breeding information |
Breeding season: Aug - Jan | Eggs: 2 - 3 | Incubation period: ca. 16 days | Fledging age: ca. 14 days |
In arid regions Little Woodswallows will usually breed after good rainfall, also outside the core breeding season listed in the table above.
Nest building: Female & male | Incubation: Female & male | Dependent care: Female & male |
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal] |
Type: Basket | Material: Twigs, grass | Height above ground: 0 - ? m |
Little Woodswallows usually nest in crevices or on rock ledges, but these can also be substituted by suitable hollows in trees.
Overview of the location of a Little Woodswallow nest in a
tree hollow (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Buchanan Highway, NT, November 2018]
View of the entrance to a Little Woodswallow nest in a
tree hollow (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Buchanan Highway, NT, November 2018]
View into the hollow onto a Little Woodswallow nest
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Buchanan Highway, NT, November 2018]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
Size: 21 x 14 mm | Colour: Light-grey, with grey to brownish speckles | Shape: Tapered oval |
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Behaviour |
Like other species of woodswallows, Little Woodswallows are in the habit of jiggling their backside, possibly to attract company.
Little Woodswallow jiggle to the right...
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Bird Billabong Road, near Arnhem Highway, NT, July 2018]
Little Woodswallow jiggle to the left...
"I wonder whether Andrea Petkovic has patented that move?"
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Bird Billabong Road, near Arnhem Highway, NT, July 2018]
Here company is arriving (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Bird Billabong Road, near Arnhem Highway, NT, July 2018]
Little Woodswallows - a pair? (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Bird Billabong Road, near Arnhem Highway, NT, July 2018]
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Food, Diet |
Adults: Small insects | Dependents: As adults | Water intake: Daily(?) |
Like all members of the Artamus family known to us, Little Woodswallows hunt small insects which they devour in-flight.