Animalia Life

Artamus cyanopterus
TAXONOMY
Artamus cyanoptera Latham, 1801, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Two subspecies.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Langrayen sordide; German: Russchwalbenstar; Spanish: Golondrina del Bosque Ahumada.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
6.7–7.1 in (17–18 cm); 1.1–1.6 oz (31–46 g). Smoky-brown body, dark gray wings and tail; wings edged in white, distinctive white spots at end of tail. Underwings silvery.
DISTRIBUTION
Australian endemic. A. c. perthi is resident in southwest Australia. A. c. cyanopterus is found in eastern South Australia up to southern Queensland, including Tasmania, but migrates north in winter.
HABITAT
Found in eucalypt forests and woodlands, along water courses, and over natural clearings. Tend to prefer rural areas, and wetter habitat than most woodswallows.
BEHAVIOR
Tends to live in small groups of several dozen birds. Social and gregarious, often roosting in a cluster in a tree hollow. Birds often perch close together while resting during the day. Chattering contact call, harsh mobbing call.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Primarily an aerial feeder. Will also glean foliage, take ground insects and occasionally nectar.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Both parents build the flimsy cup nest of plant fibers. Nests are built in loose colonies, with territory around the nest defended. May be cooperative breeders, with helpers at the nest. Clutch is three to four blotched white eggs. Incubation is for 16 days, and fledging occurs 16–20 days after hatching.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.

Other popular Animals