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White-browed WoodswallowAlternate name(s): "Blue Martin", "Skimmer*", "Summerbird*", "Martin*" Size: 19-20 cm Weight: 30-41 g |
Description
Classification
Distribution
Sightings
Photos
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
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 Click here for a physical description
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
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Click here for sighting information
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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MALE |
Frontal view of a male White-browed Woodswallow
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Windorah, QLD, September 2022]
Frontal view of a male White-browed Woodswallow
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Doctors Flat Road, Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, November 2019]
Frontal view of a male White-browed Woodswallow looking
downward, thereby displaying prominently is white
supercilia
(photo courtesy of
V. Collins)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2020]
Frontal view of a male White-browed Woodswallow looking sideways
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Windorah, QLD, September 2022]
Close-up near-frontal view of a male White-browed Woodswallow
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2015]
Frontal view of a male White-browed Woodswallow spreading its
wings, giving a good view of its underwing plumage
[Between Walgett and Bourke, NSW, September 2012]
Near-frontal view of a male White-browed Woodswallow
(photo courtesy of
V. Collins)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2020]
Near-frontal view of a male White-browed Woodswallow calling
[Between Walgett and Bourke, NSW, September 2012]
Near-lateral view of a male White-browed Woodswallow
[Between Walgett and Bourke, NSW, September 2012]
Lateral view of a male White-browed Woodswallow
[Between Walgett and Bourke, NSW, September 2012]
Lateral view of a male White-browed Woodswallow looking at the observer
[Pilliga, NSW, December 2018]
Lateral view of a male White-browed Woodswallow
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2015]
Near-lateral view of a male White-browed Woodswallow in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]
Lateral view of a male White-browed Woodswallow in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2015]
Lateral view of a male White-browed Woodswallow in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2015]
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FEMALE |
Full-frontal view of a female White-browed Woodswallow
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2019]
Frontal view of a female White-browed Woodswallow
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2019]
Frontal view of a female White-browed Woodswallow
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]
Near-frontal view of a female White-browed Woodswallow
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2019]
Lateral view of a female White-browed Woodswallow
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]
Lateral view of a female White-browed Woodswallow
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]
Lateral/ventral view of a female White-browed Woodswallow
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2008]
This photo of a female may indicate that White-browed Woodswallows
can raise their "hackles" (throat feathers)
[Between Walgett and Bourke, NSW, September 2012]
Near-dorsal view of a female White-browed Woodswallow
looking back at the observer
(photo courtesy of
V. Collins)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2020]
Female White-browed Woodswallow banking to land
(photo courtesy of
V. Collins)
[Pilliga scrub,
NSW, November 2020]
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PAIR |
Frontal view of a pair of White-browed Woodswallows; female
on the left, male on the right
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2018]
Pair of White-browed Woodswallows having a drink; female
on the left, male on the right
(photo courtesy of
V. Collins)
[Pilliga scrub,
NSW, November 2020]
Lateral view of a male White-browed Woodswallow (left back)
and a female (front right)
[Between Walgett and Bourke, NSW, September 2012]
Sex unknown |
Small flock of White-browed Woodswallows (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
Cutout from a larger photo of a mixed flock of White-browed Woodswallows
and Masked
Woodswallows; click on image to see the full field-of-view
(photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
Part of a flock of White-browed Woodswallows in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Near-frontal view of an immature female White-browed Woodswallow
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]
Dorsal view of an immature White-browed Woodswallow (photo courtesy
of R. Druce)
[Leard State Forest, NSW, November 2013]
Close-up frontal view of a juvenile White-browed Woodswallow
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]
Close-up lateral view of a juvenile White-browed Woodswallow
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]
Male White-browed Woodswallow with a juvenile
[Pilliga NP,
near Wee Waa, NSW, December 2019]
Frontal view of a fledgling White-browed Woodswallow
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, January 2018]
Hybrid Masked/White-browed Woodswallow(?)
Frontal view of a possible hybrid between Masked Woodswallow and
White-browed Woodswallow
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Oolambeyan NP, near Hay, NSW, November 2012]
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Breeding information |
| Breeding season: Aug - Dec | Eggs: 2 - 3 | Incubation period: ? | Fledging age: ? |
Given the right conditions, White-browed Woodswallows can breed at any time of the year.
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal] |
| Type: Basket | Material: Sticks, with grass and/or other soft lining | Height above ground: 0.5 - 3 m |
White-browed Woodswallows are known to sometimes re-use mud nests of Magpie-larks.
White-browed Woodswallow hatchling in its nest
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Doctors Flat Road, Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, December 2017]
Hatchlings in a "conventional" White-browed Woodswallow nest
behind a semi-detached piece of bark
(photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Baradine/Coonamble area, NSW, 1980ies]
"Avant garde" White-browed Woodswallow nest in a rain gauge
(photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Baradine to Coonamble road, NSW, 1980ies]
White-browed Woodswallow nest in a hollow tree trunk
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Windorah, QLD, August 2022]
Close-up view of a male White-browed Woodswallow on its nest
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Doctors Flat Road, Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, December 2017]
Female White-browed Woodswallow looking around in a casuarina tree for suitable
nest material; this is one of the birds whose calls were recorded on 2
December 2015
[Capertee Valley, NSW, December 2015]
It promptly found something that had just the right properties...
[Capertee Valley, NSW, December 2015]
... and carried it off to its nest in a dead eucalypt
[Capertee Valley, NSW, December 2015]
Near-frontal view of a male White-browed Woodswallow
carrying a twig
(photo courtesy of
V. Collins)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2020]
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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 16 mm | Colour: Light-brown, with dark-brown speckles | Shape: Tapered oval |
White-browed Woodswallow nest with two eggs inside
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Doctors Flat Road, Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, December 2017]
White-browed Woodswallow nest with two eggs inside
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Windorah, QLD, August 2022]
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Behaviour |
| Social behaviour: Communal | Mobility: Migratory | Elementary unit: Large flock |
White-browed Woodswallows are regularly seen in mixed flocks with Masked Woodswallows.
Mixed flock of White-browed Woodswallows and
Masked Woodswallows
perched in a group of
Acacia salicina
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2018]
All four possible morphologies of adult White-browed Woodswallows and
Masked Woodswallows
seen together:
pair of White-browed Woodswallows, male at the top centre,
female below, together with a male
Masked Woodswallow,
left, and a female
Masked Woodswallow, right
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2018]
Male White-browed Woodswallow, top, with a female below, together with
a male Masked Woodswallow,
bottom right
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2018]
We have seen a flock of White-browed Woodswallow on the ground, presumably foraging, see photo below.
White-browed Woodswallows on a paddock
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, March 2006]
Male White-browed Woodswallow hunting from a very low perch
[Pilliga NP,
near Wee Waa, NSW, December 2019]
This female White-browed Woodswallow was seen calling out and signalling...
(photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Leard State Forest, NSW, November 2013]
... thereby attracting a male (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Leard State Forest, NSW, November 2013]
The competition came too late (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Leard State Forest, NSW, November 2013]
Family of White-browed Woodswallows that has chosen a potentially
dangerously low roost for the night, only 2.5 m above ground
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]
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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, hunt insects which they usually devour in-flight. We have also seen them feed on nectar (see below).
Male White-browed Woodswallow trying to subdue a cicada
(photo courtesy of
V. Collins)
[Pilliga scrub,
NSW, December 2020]
Lateral view of a male White-browed Woodswallow which looks
like a flying ant
[Pilliga, NSW, December 2018]
White-browed Woodswallow with its catch, a flying insect
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2018]
White-browed Woodswallow with its prey, a large spider
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]
Male White-browed Woodswallow taking a bush cockroach
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]
These White-browed Woodswallows found something interesting in
Currajong seed pods
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2019]
Part of a mixed flock of (both adult and immature) White-browed Woodswallows
and Masked Woodswallows
seen by us descending onto (and foraging on?) a dry paddock shortly after rainfall
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2014]
Male White-browed Woodswallow feasting on the nectar of a
Grevillea robusta
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2018]
Male White-browed Woodswallow feasting on the nectar of a
Grevillea robusta
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2018]
Female White-browed Woodswallow and male
Masked Woodswallow
in a Grevillea robusta
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2018]
White-browed Woodswallows and
Masked Woodswallows
festing on nectar low in a
in a Grevillea robusta
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2018]
in a Grevillea robusta
with a flock of
White-browed Woodswallows and
Masked Woodswallows
festing on its nectar (click on image for high-resolution version to see
the many individual birds)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2018]
White-browed Woodswallows drinking water together with
Masked Woodswallows
[Pilliga NP,
near Wee Waa, NSW, December 2019]
Small flock of White-browed Woodswallows having a drink, together with a
few Masked Woodswallows
(photo courtesy of
V. Collins)
[Pilliga scrub,
NSW, November 2020]
Small flock of White-browed Woodswallows having a drink, together with a
few Masked Woodswallows
(photo courtesy of
V. Collins)
[Pilliga scrub,
NSW, November 2020]
This family of White-browed Woodswallows (adults below, juveniles
above) came for a drink from our ornamental pond on a 45 C "stinker"
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2014]
Stand-off between a pair of White-browed Woodswallows and a
Singing Honeyeater
about water and/or food
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]
Stand-off between a pair of White-browed Woodswallows and a
Singing Honeyeater
about water and/or food
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]
Female White-browed Woodswallow snapping at an insect in flight
(photo courtesy of
V. Collins)
[Pilliga scrub,
NSW, September 2020]
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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.
| wbrowsw_20171221_5.m4a | (NW NSW) | Contact call | © MD | |
| wbrowsw_20151202_2.m4a | (W NSW) | Contact call | © MD | |
| wbrowsw_20151202.m4a | (W NSW) | Contact calls | © MD | |
| wbrowsw_20171221_7.m4a | (NW NSW) | Contact call (Q&A) | © MD | |
| wbrowsw_20201219.m4a | (NW NSW) | Alarm calls mob (Lace Monitor) | © MD | |
| wbrowsw_20171221_4.m4a | (NW NSW) | Alarm calls | © MD | |
| wbrowsw_20151202_3.m4a | (W NSW) | Alarm calls | © MD | |
| wbrowsw_20190116.m4a | (NW NSW) | Warning call (male) | © MD | |
| wbrowsw_20190206.m4a | (NW NSW) | Warning calls (male) | © MD | |
| wbrowsw_20190203.m4a | (NW NSW) | Annoyed/upset (male) | © MD | |
| wbrowsw_20171221_3.m4a | (NW NSW) | Departure | © MD | |
| wbrowsw_20200919.m4a | (NW NSW) | Various | © MD | |
| wbrowsw_20171221_6.m4a | (NW NSW) | Various | © MD | |
| wbrowsw_20171221_8.m4a | (NW NSW) | Various | © MD | |
| wbrowsw_20191221_2.m4a | (NW NSW) | Various (flock in-flight) | © MD | |
| wbrowsw_20150916.mp3 | (NW NSW) | Various (flock in-flight) | © MD | |
| wbrowsw_20171221_2.m4a | (NW NSW) | Various (flock in-flight departing) | © MD | |
| mixwood_20150916.mp3 | (NW NSW) | Mixed flock with Masked Woodswallows | © MD | |
| mixwood_20180908_1.m4a | (NW NSW) | Large mixed flock with Masked Woodswallows | © MD | |
| mixwood_20180908_2.m4a | (NW NSW) | Large mixed flock with Masked Woodswallows | © MD | |
| mixwood_20190910.m4a | (NW NSW) | Mixed flock with Masked Woodswallows | © MD | |
| wbrowsw_20190201.m4a | (NW NSW) | ? | © MD |
We have recorded the calls of a mixed flock of ca. 200 White-browed Woodswallows and Masked Woodswallows raiding a flowering Grevillea robusta ("Silky Oak") tree.
| woodsw_20181029.m4a | (NW NSW) | Flock feeding on nectar | © MD | |
| woodsw_20181029_2.m4a | (NW NSW) | Flock feeding on nectar | © MD |
More White-browed Woodswallow sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.