Animalia Life

Artamus superciliosus
TAXONOMY
Artamus superciliosus Gould, 1837, Hunter River, New South Wales, Australia.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Langrayen bridй; German: Weissbrauen-Schwalbenstar; Spanish: Golondrina del Bosque de Cejas Blancas.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
7.5–7.9 in (19–20 cm); 1.1–1.3 oz (32–38 g). Male gray above, chestnut below, highlighted by white-eyebrow stripe, and white corners to tail. Female, colors muted; juvenile brown and streaked.
DISTRIBUTION
Nomadic species found throughout much of the eastern half of Australia, primarily away from the coast.
HABITAT
Occupies highly diverse habitat, from eucalypt forests and woodlands to arid spinifex, heathlands, and settled areas including orchards and farmlands.
BEHAVIOR
Highly nomadic, flocks often contain several woodswallow species. Opportunistic breeder, with flocks settling in areas where insects are abundant or where recent rains have occurred. Chattering contact calls are frequent among flock members, and they frequently cluster together at roost.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
A predominately aerial forager, endlessly swooping and soaring, taking flying insects. Will take insects from ground or foliage, and flower nectar.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Usually nest in loose colonies, often opportunistically after rainfall. Both parents build flimsy nest of plant fibers placed in crevice. Clutch is usually two to three blotched white eggs; incubation lasts about 16 days and fledging occurs after about two weeks, although young stay with parents considerably longer.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.

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