22

White-browed Woodswallow (Artamus superciliosus) Alternate name(s): "Blue Martin", "Skimmer*", "Summerbird*", "Martin*" Size: 19-20 cm Body mass: 30-41 g

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

Physical description Click here for a physical description White-browed Woodswallows are large woodswallows. Their plumage is dimorphic, i.e. males and females are different. Male White-browed Woodswallows have a black face, except for prominent white eyebrows. The crown, neck and upper chest are dark-grey. The rest of the front, from lower chest to undertail coverts, is rich chestnut-brown. The back, including the wings, is dark-grey, the uppertail is also grey, with two white terminal outer triangles. Females have duller colours throughout. The eyebrows are buff and inconspicuous, head and upper chest and back are grey. The rest of the front is pale chestnut. The pointy, slightly down-curved bill of both sexes is grey, with a black tip. The legs and feet are grey. Juveniles have highly cryptic, more brownish and heavily striated plumage throughout, with dark grey-brown wing tail and feathers. The bill is also brownish, with a dark tip.

Taxonomy, classification See White-browed 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-browed Woodswallow is available HERE . White-browed Woodswallows are endemic to Australia. They are found over most of the eastern half of the Australian continent, except Tasmania and Cape York peninsula. They reside in most of SA, VIC, NSW and QLD. Sometimes they can extend their range farther westward, to encompass also all of the NT (except Arnhemland) and the south-eastern corner of WA. White-browed Woodswallows can be found in many different inland habitats, from wet forests to semi-arid scrub. Where to look? How to find this species? In our experience, the most likely way one can find White-browed Woodswallows is to watch out for migrating flocks. These are often noisy affairs that one can more easily hear than see at altitude. The flocks often count in the thousands of birds and they are often mixed flocks of White-browed Woodswallows and Masked Woodswallows.

Sightings Click here for sighting information White-browed Woodswallows are found by us semi-regularly in inland NSW, where they usually appear in flocks of tens to hundreds, often together with a smaller number of Masked Woodswallows. Many White-browed Woodswallows were seen by us, in many different locations, on a trip to outback NSW in September 2012. We noticed that, the farther West - into the arid inland - one goes, the smaller the size of individual flocks/groups becomes. In September 2017, after a period of 3 months without any rain, none were found in western NSW. The next season, although also mostly dry, was a very good season for woodswallows in the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW. R. Plumtree reports finding White-browed Woodswallows regularly during the breeding season in the area of Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC. B. Hensen reports finding a bird that looks like a hybrid between a Masked Woodswallow and a White-browed Woodswallow at Oolambeyan NP, near Hay, NSW, in November 2012. P. Brown spotted a White-browed Woodswallow at Dripstone Park, Brinkin, Darwin, NT, in May 2021. This location is right at the northern edge of the species' range.

Photos

ADULT

PAIR

Frontal view of a pair of White-browed Woodswallows; female on the left stretching a wing, male on the right
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2018]

Frontal/lateral view fo a 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]

Near-frontal view of a pair of White-browed Woodswallows looking sideways
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, January 2026]

Near-frontal/lateral views of a pair of White-browed Woodswallows, male at the back
[Between Walgett and Bourke, NSW, September 2012]

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]

Close-up frontal view of a male White-browed Woodswallow
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2015]

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]

Near-frontal view of a male White-browed Woodswallow looking sideways (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2020]

Close-up near-frontal view of a male White-browed Woodswallow looking sideways
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2025]

Near-frontal view of a male White-browed Woodswallow looking sideways while issuing its call
[Between Walgett and Bourke, NSW, September 2012]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a male White-browed Woodswallow
[Between Walgett and Bourke, NSW, September 2012]

Near-lateral view of a male White-browed Woodswallow having a good look at the approaching photographer
[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]

Close-up 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]

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]

Frontal view of a female White-browed Woodswallow looking sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2019]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a female White-browed Woodswallow looking sideways
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2025]

Lateral view of a female White-browed Woodswallow looking towards the observer
[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]

Lateral view of a female indicating 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]

Sex unknown

Lateral view of part of a flock of White-browed Woodswallows in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]

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 looking left and right
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, January 2019]

Close-up near-lateral/ventral view of a juvenile White-browed Woodswallow looking backwards
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, January 2026]

Close-up lateral view of a juvenile White-browed Woodswallow
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a juvenile White-browed Woodswallow looking sideways
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, January 2026]

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]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Aug - Dec

Eggs: 2 - 3

Incubation period: 12 - 16 days

Fledging age: 13 - 15 days

Given the right conditions, White-browed Woodswallows can breed at any time of the year.

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]

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]

Near-dorsal view of a 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]

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]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Migratory

Elementary unit: Large flock

Where their ranges overlap, White-browed Woodswallows usually come in mixed flocks with Masked Woodswallows.

Lateral view of part of a flock of White-browed Woodswallows rising in a dense, chattering mass after feeding on nectar in a tree
[Pilliga NP, NSW, September 2023]

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]

Near-lateral view of a male White-browed Woodswallow hunting from a very low perch
[Pilliga NP, near Wee Waa, NSW, December 2019]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a family of White-browed Woodswallows that chose a potentially dangerously low roost for the night, only 2.5 m above ground; from left to right, 2 juveniles, Dad and Mum
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]

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 with its prey, which looks like a flying ant
[Pilliga, NSW, December 2018]

Ventral view of a White-browed Woodswallow in flight with its catch, a flying insect
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2018]

Lateral view of a White-browed Woodswallow with its prey, a large spider
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]

Lateral view of a 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]

Near-frontal view of a male White-browed Woodswallow feasting on the nectar of a Grevillea robusta (note the pollen around the base of the bill)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2018]

Near-lateral view of a male White-browed Woodswallow feasting on the nectar of a Grevillea robusta (note the pollen around the base of the bill)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2018]

Frontal view of a female White-browed Woodswallow, right, and a male Masked Woodswallow taking nectar from a Grevillea robusta (note the pollen around the base of the bill)
[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]

Female White-browed Woodswallow snapping at an insect in flight (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, September 2020]

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_20230916.mp3	(NW NSW)	Contact calls (departing large flock)	© 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_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 .

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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