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White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorynchus) Alternate name(s): "White-rumped Woodswallow" Size: 16-18 cm Body mass: 35-45 g

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description White-breasted Woodswallows are medium-sized woodswallows with an all dark-grey head, dark-grey wings and back. The mantle is brownish-grey. Their front (breast, belly, vent) and underwing are all-white. The tail is black, the legs and feet are gry. Like other species of woodswallows, White-breasted Woodswallows have a stout, blueish-grey bill with a black tip. Juveniles have a cryptic, more brownish plumage, especially on the head and mantle, which are heavily striated, and a buff tint on the chest. The bill is also brownish, with a dark tip.

Taxonomy, classification See White-breasted Woodswallow at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the White-breasted Woodswallow is available HERE . The range of the White-breasted Woodswallow extends from the Andaman Islands in the Indian Ocean, via much of South-east Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, Timor Leste, the Philippines), to the Pacific island nations of the Solomon Islands and New Caledonia and southwards to Australia. In Australia only White-breasted Woodswallows, race "leucopygialis", are found. They inhabit most of the eastern half of the Australian continent, plus the northern (near-)coastal areas, from about the major rivers and the coastline of the Gascoyne in WA, via the Kimberley, the entire Top End of the NT and all of QLD and down into inland NSW, including the Murray-Darling Basin. They are also found in the Lake Eyre Basin, in the QLD/NSW/SA/NT border region. Occasionally they extend their range to include basically all of the NT and the entire north-eastern half of SA. White-breasted Woodswallows are not found along the south-eastern seaboard southward of the NSW Central Coast and the Great Dividing Range, including the Australian Alps, southward of the northern tablelands of NSW, or Tasmania. There are no White-breasted Woodswallows along the southern coastal regions of VIC and SA and most of WA either. White-breasted Woodswallows can live in many different habitats, from wet forests to semi-arid plains with a mix of scrub/shrubs and grassland. Where to look? How to find this species? Despite their flexibility, the common denominator in our sightings of White-breasted Woodswallows is that we almost invariably find them near water, be it by lakes, incl. ephemeral lakes, or watercourses. There they are usually conspicuous, perched on dead branches or on power lines, often huddling as a mob/family clan. Since humans also tend to cluster around water, at least in inland Australia, it is worth noting that White-breasted Woodswallows are adapted to the presence of humans (we have, for example, found them around hot bore baths).

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "leucopygialis" White-breasted Woodswallows, race "leucopygialis", sometimes stayed at a semi-permanent waterhole 20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, in the time frame 2005-2006. In February 2008 we first found White-breasted Woodswallows, race "leucopygialis", in the township of Narrabri, where they usually stay around Narrabri Lake. They have been found nesting at Narrabri Lake every year since. Some years, e.g. 2015, they stay there even through the winter months. M. Mearns found White-breasted Woodswallows, race "leucopygialis", at Currawinya NP, near Hungerford, QLD, in October 2012 and in Kingaroy, QLD, in October to December 2015. They were also found at Camooweal Caves, QLD, in September 2019. V. Jericho reports spotting White-breasted Woodswallows, race "leucopygialis", at Carawine Gorge, WA, in July 2013. In August 2014 White-breasted Woodswallows, race "leucopygialis", were found by us in abundance in various areas in and around Darwin, NT, where they were also found by H. Mouritsen in October 2015. Also P. Brown reports finding them there regularly. R. Plumtree reports spotting White-breasted Woodswallows, race "leucopygialis", near Lyndhurst, SA, in October 2016. M. Eaton reports finding White-breasted Woodswallows, race "leucopygialis", in many wetlands along the coastline of southern to central QLD regularly. In June 2025, M. Eaton also found them to be present at Lake Moondarra, near Mount Isa, QLD. A. Ross-Taylor spotted White-breasted Woodswallows, race "leucopygialis", in Townsville, QLD, in November 2021, and in Port Douglas, QLD, in May 2022.

Photos

Race "leucopygialis"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Close-up frontal view of a White-breasted Woodswallow
[Lightning Ridge, NSW, April 2024]

Close-up frontal view of a White-breasted Woodswallow
[Pilliga Lagoon, near Pilliga, NSW, February 2024]

Close-up frontal view of a White-breasted Woodswallow looking sideways
[Pilliga Lagoon, near Pilliga, NSW, February 2024]

Close-up frontal view of a White-breasted Woodswallow looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Windorah, QLD, September 2022]

Close-up frontal/ventral view of White-breasted Woodswallows
[Pilliga Lagoon, near Pilliga, NSW, April 2021]

Close-up frontal/ventral view of White-breasted Woodswallows
[Pilliga Lagoon, near Pilliga, NSW, April 2021]

Frontal/ventral view of White-breasted Woodswallows in a huddle
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Port Douglas, QLD, May 2022]

Close-up near-frontal view of a White-breasted Woodswallow
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, May 2017]

Close-up near-frontal view of a White-breasted Woodswallow
[Lightning Ridge, NSW, April 2024]

Near-lateral view of a White-breasted Woodswallow looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Near Lyndhurst, SA, October 2016]

Near-lateral view of a White-breasted Woodswallow looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Brunswick Heads, NSW, Jnauary 2019]

Near-lateral view of a White-breasted Woodswallow stretching a wing
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, May 2017]

Lateral view of a White-breasted Woodswallow looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Brunswick Heads, NSW, Jnauary 2019]

Lateral view of a White-breasted Woodswallow looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wynnum, QLD, December 2017]

Lateral view of a White-breasted Woodswallow (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near St. George, QLD, September 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a White-breasted Woodswallow looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Town of 1770, QLD, September 2017]

Dorsal view of a White-breasted Woodswallow looking sideways
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2010]

Dorsal view of a White-breasted Woodswallow (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Road Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, August 2017]

Frontal/ventral view of a White-breasted Woodswallow in flight
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, August 2010]

Lateral view of a White-breasted Woodswallow in flight (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, July 2014]

Lateral view of a White-breasted Woodswallow in a steep bank (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, July 2014]

Lateral/ventral view of a White-breasted Woodswallow in flight
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, August 2010]

Ventral view of a White-breasted Woodswallow in flight
[Yarrie Lake, NSW, December 2013]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Close-up frontal/ventral view of two immature White-breasted Woodswallows looking sideways
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, October 2010]

Close-up near-lateral/ventral view of two immature White-breasted Woodswallows looking towards the observer
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, October 2010]

Close-up ventral view of 2 immature White-breasted Woodswallows spreading their wings
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, October 2010]

Frontal view of an adult White-breasted Woodswallow, right, with a dorsal view of an immature bird on the left - note the rufous edges of the juvenile coverts and tertial flight feathers (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Port Douglas, QLD, May 2022]

Frontal view of a juvenile White-breasted Woodswallow
[Pilliga, NSW, December 2020]

Frontal view of juvenile White-breasted Woodswallows (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wynnum, QLD, December 2017]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile White-breasted Woodswallow; note the scalloping on the wing (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wynnum, QLD, December 2017]

Lateral view onto the upperparts of a juvenile White-breasted Woodswallow
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, March 2024]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile White-breasted Woodswallow looking sideways
[Pilliga, NSW, December 2020]

Ventral view of a White-breasted Woodswallow with three fledglings (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

White-breasted Woodswallow with a begging fledgling (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Near Lyndhurst, SA, October 2016]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Aug - Jan

Eggs: 3 - 4

Incubation period: ?

Fledging age: ?

Given the right conditions (e.g. absence of frost), White-breasted Woodswallows can breed any time of the year.

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Basket

Material: Twigs, rootlets, dry grass

Height above ground: 4 - 30 m

White-breasted Woodswallows are known to sometimes put their own little stick nest inside a recycled mud nest.

Close-up view of a White-breasted Woodswallow at its nest in a natural setting, in a fork of a small or broken branch off the main trunk of a tree
[Cattai Wetlands, Coopernook, NSW, October 2023]

"Conventional" White-breasted Woodswallow nest in a natural setting, in a fork of a small or broken branch off the main trunk of a tree
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2011]

Close-up view of a White-breasted Woodswallow at its nest in a large cavity in a dead tree limb
[Pilliga, NSW, November 2023]

A year later, White-breasted Woodswallows were using the same nest hollow again
[Pilliga, NSW, November 2024]

White-breasted Woodswallow nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Road Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, November 2018]

White-breasted Woodswallow on its nest (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Kingaroy, QLD, October 2015]

White-breasted Woodswallow nest in a hollow dead branch
[Pilliga, NSW, December 2020]

Ventral view of the owners of the White-breasted Woodswallow nest above, one of which is carrying nest material
[Pillia, NSW, December 2020]

Close-up frontal view of a White-breasted Woodswallow returning to its nest with food; the bird nested weeks later, so this meal must have been for itself
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2011]

Next the White-breasted Woodswallow sat down gingerly on its nest again...
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2011]

... while making sure that the human observer was no threat
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2011]

Here the same White-breasted Woodswallow seen nesting a month later
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2011]

Lateral view of a fledgling White-breasted Woodswallow chick near its nest
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, January 2012]

Lateral view of a fledgling White-breasted Woodswallow chick near its nest (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, January 2012]

The White-breasted Woodswallow nests shown above were built as is "typical" of the species; but they are also opportunistic - in this case "recycling" a Magpie-lark nest
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, October 2013]

The same White-breasted Woodswallow as shown above, now sitting on the recycled Magpie-lark nest
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, October 2013]

The next breeding season, a pair of White-breasted Woodswallows in the same area were using a recycled Australian Magpie nest, a massive stick nest which is very different from a mud nest; two near-fledging age chicks can be seen in the nest
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, January 2015]

White-breasted Woodswallow near its "avant garde" nest (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Nightcliff, Darwin, NT, November 2020]

White-breasted Woodswallow at its "avant garde" nest (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Nightcliff, Darwin, NT, November 2020]

Additional information

It is known that White-breasted Woodswallows will re-use nests of other species, in particular old mud nest built by Magpie-larks. This behaviour has also been reported to us by A. Morris. We have compiled some more information on the (re-)use of mud nests.

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 23 x 17 mm

Colour: Light-brown, with tiny mid-brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Partially migratory (SE)

Elementary unit: Flock

As shown above, White-breasted Woodswallows have been found by us to re-use Magpie-lark mud nests. This behaviour was also observed by A. Morris.

As also shown below, White-breasted Woodswallows are very sociable. They are well-known for their habit of huddling up tightly.

The greatest White-breasted Woodswallow huddle ever? (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, July 2019]

White-breasted Woodswallows huddling (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Buffalo Creek, Darwin, NT, July 2020]

Mob of White-breasted Woodswallows in a huddle (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Sandy Creek, Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, July 2019]

While huddling, a clear pecking order is established. At times one can see individuals jump into gaps to be near the desired partner.

White-breasted Woodswallows huddling while preening, first themselves...
[Burren Junction, NSW, January 2024]

... then preening each other, "allopreening"; this type of behaviour is part of a bonding ritual
[Burren Junction, NSW, January 2024]

White-breasted Woodswallows sharing some TLC; this type of behaviour is part of a bonding ritual
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near St. George, QLD, September 2017]

White-breasted Woodswallows are very combative birds that will try to keep raptors out of their territory and away from their nest. We have seen them attack raptors preying on birds, such as e.g. Australian Hobbies, and up to the size of the largest raptor in Australia, a Wedge-tailed Eagle.

When a White-breasted Woodswallow fans its tail as indicated here it is usually upset
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2012]

White-breasted Woodswallows will not shy away from hustling raptors as large and powerful as a Brown Falcon or even bigger (see below)
[April 2012]

White-breasted Woodswallow harassing a Whistling Kite (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, July 2018]

White-breasted Woodswallow harassing a Grey Goshawk (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, August 2017]

Food, Diet

Adults: Small insects

Dependents: As adults

Water intake: Daily(?)

Like all members of the Artamus family known to us, hunt small insects which they usually devour in-flight.

Lateral/ventral view of a White-breasted Woodswallow with its prey, a bee (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Road Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, August 2017]

Lateral/ventral view of a juvenile White-breasted Woodswallow taking big prey - a dragonfly
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, April 2026]

Ventral view of a family of White-breasted Woodswallows; on the right an adult feeding a dependent juvenile a fly
(photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Camooweal Caves, QLD, September 2019]

White-breasted Woodswallows, one of which has caught an insect (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

These White-breasted Woodswallows were either after nectar or after insects in the flowers of this Woolibutt tree
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Bird billabong, near Arnhem Highway, NT, July 2018]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

wbrstsw_20180120.m4a	leucopygialis (NW NSW)	Contact calls + begging calls (juvenile)	© MD
wbrstsw_20231003.mp3	leucopygialis (E NSW)	Alarm calls (human near nest)	© MD
wbrstsw_20200114.m4a	leucopygialis (NW NSW)	Various	© MD
wbrstsw_20180120_2.m4a	leucopygialis (NW NSW)	Begging calls (juvenile)	© MD
wbrstsw_20180120_3.m4a	leucopygialis (NW NSW)	Begging calls (juvenile)	© MD
wbrstsw_20180105.m4a	leucopygialis (NW NSW)	Begging calls (fledgling)	© MD
wbrstsw_20180105_2.m4a	leucopygialis (NW NSW)	Begging calls & being fed (fledgling)	© MD

More White-breasted Woodswallow sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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