Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus)
Black-faced Woodswallow

Black-faced Woodswallow

Artamus cinereus

The Black-faced Woodswallow, Artamus cinereus, presents a striking figure with its distinctive black facial mask extending from the base of its bill to encompass the eyes. This bird, measuring 18–19 cm in length and weighing between 32–40 grams, is cloaked in ash grey plumage, with a lighter breast, darker wings, and silver underwings. Its tail is a stark black with a white tip, and it sports a blue-grey beak tipped in black.

Identification Tips

To identify the Black-faced Woodswallow, look for the characteristic black facial mask and the contrast between the ash grey body and the darker wings. The tail's white tip is a key feature, as is the blue-grey beak with a black tip. Juveniles can be distinguished by their brown body and wing coloration with buff streaks and a pale yellow beak.

Habitat

The Black-faced Woodswallow is a denizen of open eucalypt woodlands, scrub, and spinifex in arid and semi-arid regions. In tropical savannahs, it favors open woodlands and grasslands.

Distribution

This species is widespread across Australia, New Guinea, and the Sunda Islands, including Timor. It is the most prevalent species within the Artamidae family.

Behaviour

The Black-faced Woodswallow is known for its aerial agility, soaring, hovering, and diving to catch insect prey. It is also a communal breeder, with multiple birds often feeding the young, and exhibits a tendency to flock and cluster roost for thermoregulation and protection.

Song & Calls

The soft vocal repertoire of the Black-faced Woodswallow includes chiff, chap, and chattering calls, which may incorporate elements of vocal mimicry.

Breeding

Breeding typically follows periods of rain when insects are abundant. The woodswallow engages in courtship displays involving tail rotation and wing waving. Nests are constructed in tree hollows or crevices, and eggs are white to dull white with red-brown and lavender speckling.

Similar Species

While there are no similar species mentioned, the subspecies can be differentiated by the coloration of their tail vents, with some having white and others black.

Diet and Feeding

The Black-faced Woodswallow is primarily insectivorous, catching moths and other insects in flight or on the ground. It also has a brush-like tongue for gleaning nectar and may occasionally feed on flowers.

Conservation Status

The Black-faced Woodswallow is currently listed as Least Concern, though there have been regional declines, particularly on the Cape York Peninsula, attributed to changes in vegetation due to fire regimes. However, recent changes in fire management have halted the decline.

Black-faced Woodswallow Sounds


Recorded by: © 
App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Black-faced Woodswallows on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Woodswallows, Butcherbirds & Allies

A photo of a Dusky Woodswallow (Artamus cyanopterus)

Dusky Woodswallow

Artamus cyanopterus
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Carl B
Helped me to identify more birds
Love this app and has helped me to identify more birds. The challenges and badges are great for keeping the motivation going to get out and keep birding.
Alice J
Awesome Birding Community
I absolutely love the community aspect of this app. The app is so user friendly and has fun interactive challenges to get you out birding. I’ve tried others but since I’ve started using Birda I’ve not gone back!
SW H
Wonderful App
Birda is my go to app for keeping records of my bird sightings and sessions. It has fantastic information which is great at aiding identification. With all the updates that are coming in the new year, this app is something special.
Patricia L
Very encouraging birding app
Easy to use, fun to see progress and encouraging to receive feedback from other users.
Louise L
Easy to use and accurate
Love this app. It is easy to use and accurate, Their backup communication is really good. I noted a missing species. All through the process, I was kept informed about the progress in correcting the information. I now have the corrected, updated version. 😁 Thanks!
Safira V
Birding and wellbeing app
Birda is an excellent platform to share your love of Birding and is a great tool of encouragement for a Birding Beginner like me. Birda has a very kind and supportive community of Birding enthusiasts. For me BIRDA is not only a BIRDING but also a WELLBEING App.
Nicole
Gets me outdoors more
I'm still loving this app. I use it most days & gets me outdoors more. Enjoying watching others progress and photo's, it's improved my wellbeing.... I love this app! I can keep a record of sightings and see what others have seen too.
Chudbond
Love Birda
I love this app. It really encourages you to log your sightings and the community is friendly and helpful.
Marlster24
Very Wholesome App
Joined this app with a new interest in watching birds to help me find out what I was spotting. The community is very active in helping identify birds which is great and everyone is very kind so it’s just a nice wholesome community. I would definitely recommend this for any bird spotter 😄
Bryan C
Clean and easy to use
Really enjoying this app, it's clean and easy to use. I love the ease of being able to add those one-off birds without starting a whole checklist. I also like the social aspect, like the parts of my Facebook I like, without the ads and junk, just birds. Can't wait to see it become more populated.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.