Dusky Woodswallow
A species of Wood-swallows Scientific name : Artamus cyanopterus Genus : Wood-swallows
Dusky Woodswallow, A species of Wood-swallows
Botanical name: Artamus cyanopterus
Genus: Wood-swallows
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Lip Kee Yap , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
The dusky woodswallow is medium-sized and swallow-like, with a dark brown hue, but there have been instances where the bird has appeared grey. The birds have a black patch in front of the eyes, and grey (sometimes also black) wings with white streaks on them. The dusky woodswallow has a black, white-tipped tail with a silver underwing. The birds have a blue-grey bill capped with black. Dusky woodswallows are known to spontaneously 'wag' or swivel their tales fervently, a trait which is common among many other species of woodswallow. 
Size
18 cm
Nest Placement
Tree
Feeding Habits
Dusky Woodswallow consumes a mixed diet of insects, foliage, nectar, and grassy material, showcasing versatility. Notably, dusky Woodswallow captures flying insects mid-air with agility and also forages on the ground. A peculiar trait is its cooperative kleptoparasitism, a rare behavior among passerines, to steal prey.
Habitat
The habitat of dusky Woodswallow includes open eucalyptus forests and woodlands within temperate regions, requiring over 400 mm of rainfall yearly. These areas sometimes extend to agricultural lands. The species favors sites for communal roosting and is both migratory and nomadic post-breeding, with south-eastern groups moving north in autumn.
Dite type
Insectivorous
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Distribution Area
The birds live primarily in open eucalyptus forests and woodlands. They range mostly from Atherton Tableland, Queensland, down to Tasmania and west to Eyre Peninsula, in South Australia. They roost communally, usually nocturnally. During the breeding season, they nest in large flocks to make sure to keep predators away from young. These flocks can be 20–30 dusky woodswallows in size. Dusky woodswallows adhere to seasonal migration and movements. The birds are a nomadic species, and tend to move quite spontaneously. However, one certain change of habitat occurs for the south-eastern birds, who migrate northward for Autumn. Communally roosting birds, the dusky woodswallow has a variety of chattering calls which are used in certain situations. The most distinctive of these calls is perhaps the one which is used when a predator or intruder approaches, which consists of a harsh mobbing call to warn others.
Species Status
The dusky woodswallow has a very large range. The population size of this bird has not yet been quantified or estimated. It is, however, expected to be as populous as other birds within its densest range labeled 'common'. Because of this, the dusky woodswallow is evaluated to be of Least Concern (LC). This classification may change with new evidence, so is not to be taken with complete accuracy.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Woodswallows Genus
Wood-swallows Species
Dusky Woodswallow 
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