Ashy woodswallow

Last updated

Ashy woodswallow
Ashy Woodswallow from Sundarban Tiger Reserve West Bengal India 2017.jpg
At Sundarban Tiger Reserve, India
Calls
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Artamidae
Genus: Artamus
Species:
A. fuscus
Binomial name
Artamus fuscus
Vieillot, 1817
Ashy Woodswallow ebird data map.png
Global range
  Year-Round Range
  Summer Range
  Winter Range

The ashy woodswallow (Artamus fuscus), sometimes also called the ashy swallow-shrike, is a woodswallow which is found in south Asia. Like other woodswallows, it has a short curved bill, a short square tail and long wings. It is usually seen perched in groups, high on powerlines, tall bare trees and most often in areas with a predominance of tall palm trees.

Contents

Description

In flight, the broad base to the wings gives it a very triangular outline (Hyderabad, India) Ashy Woodswallow (Artamus fuscus) in Hyderabad, AP W IMG 7506.jpg
In flight, the broad base to the wings gives it a very triangular outline (Hyderabad, India)

This stocky woodswallow has an ashy grey upperparts with a darker head and a narrow pale band on the rump. The underside is pinkish grey and the short slaty black tail is tipped in white. The finch-like bill is silvery. In flight the long wing looks very broad at the base giving it a very triangular outline. The first primary is very short. The legs are short and the birds usually perch on high vantage points from which they make aerial sallies. There are no geographic variations in plumage and no subspecies have been designated. [2] [3]

Males and females are indistinguishable in the field, however an old report suggests that the sexes differ in the colour of the inside of the mouth. [4] Young birds appear barred on the underside. [3]

Habitat and distribution

Ashy woodswallows huddling Ashywood.JPG
Ashy woodswallows huddling

Woodswallows are found in a range of habitats from the plains to about 2000 m, over cultivated areas, in forest clearings and often in areas with tall palm trees. The species is widely distributed across Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia and China. They are absent in the very arid regions of western India. [3] [5] They have been recorded on the island of Maldives. [6]

Behaviour and ecology

Ashy woodswallows are usually seen in small groups. Several birds may sit huddled side-by-side on the bare branches of a tall tree, sometimes preening each other. They also perch on high vantage points such as powerlines and pylons. From their perches, they make aerial sallies, flapping and gliding to capture insects in the air. Insects may be caught in the beak, transferred and held in their feet, torn up with their bill and swallowed without returning to the perch. They may also return to the perch with prey to feed and will sometimes sit on the ground and have been known to visit bird baths. [7] [8] Although mainly feeding on insects, they may take nectar from flowers of trees such as Erythrina . They have been recorded feeding on toxic butterflies of the family Danaiidae such as Euploea core which are avoided by other birds. [3]

The breeding season in India is March to June, the nest is a shallow cup placed at some height such as at the base of the frond of a tall palm or a hollow atop a street lighting post. The usual clutch consists of 2–3 greenish white eggs with brown spots. Both parents take part in nest building, incubation and feeding the young. They will mob larger birds such as crows and birds of prey that approach too close to the nesting birds. [3] [9] The song consists of a varied combination of wheezy notes that may include imitations of the calls of other birds. The usual call is shrill nasal chewk. [2] [3]

They make seasonal movements, possibly in response to rainfall. [10]

The woodswallows, Artamidae, are among the few perching birds that have special feathers called powder down that break up into fine dust that is spread by the birds onto their body when preening. [11] Powder down is also found in the egrets. Members of the family have a brush-tipped tongue. They also have some of the thoracic vertebrae fused into a structure called the notarium. [12]

A species of ectoparasitic birdlouse, Menacanthus elbeli, and a mite that lives inside the feather quill have been described from hosts of this species. Other organisms associated with the species include endoparasitic trematodes Plagiorchis dactylopharynx, Papillatrema echinata and Stomylotrema travassosi. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asian green bee-eater</span> Species of bird

The Asian green bee-eater, also known as little green bee-eater, and green bee-eater in Sri Lanka, is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family. It is resident but prone to seasonal movements and is found widely distributed across Asia from coastal southern Iran east through the Indian subcontinent to Vietnam. Populations in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula that were formerly assigned to this species are now considered distinct species: the African green bee-eater and the Arabian green bee-eater. They are mainly insect eaters and they are found in grassland, thin scrub and forest often quite far from water. Several regional plumage variations are known and several subspecies have been named.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brown shrike</span> Species of bird

The brown shrike is a bird in the shrike family that is found mainly in Asia. It is closely related to the red-backed shrike and isabelline shrike. The genus name, Lanius, is derived from the Latin word for "butcher", and some shrikes are also known as "butcher birds" because of their feeding habits. The specific cristatus is Latin for "crested", used in a broader sense than in English. The common English name "shrike" is from Old English scríc, "shriek", referring to the shrill call.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woodswallow</span> Genus of birds

Woodswallows are soft-plumaged, somber-coloured passerine birds in the genus Artamus. The woodswallows are either treated as a subfamily, Artaminae, in an expanded family Artamidae, or as the only genus in that family. The generic name, which in turn gives rise to the family name, is derived from the Ancient Greek artamos, meaning butcher or murder. The name was given due to their perceived similarity to shrikes. A former common name for the group was "swallow-starlings".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-breasted woodswallow</span> Species of bird

The white-breasted woodswallow is a medium-sized passerine bird which breeds from the Andaman Islands east through Indonesia and northern Australia. The name "woodswallow" is a misnomer as they are not closely related to true swallows. Instead, they belong to the family Artamidae, which also includes butcherbirds, currawongs and the Australian magpie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian pond heron</span> Species of heron

The Indian pond heron or paddybird is a small heron. It is of Old World origins, breeding in southern Iran and east to the Indian subcontinent, Burma, and Sri Lanka. They are widespread and common but can be easily missed when they stalk prey at the edge of small water-bodies or even when they roost close to human habitations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oriental darter</span> Species of bird

The Oriental darter is a water bird of tropical South Asia and Southeast Asia. It has a long and slender neck with a straight, pointed bill and, like the cormorant, it hunts for fish while its body is submerged in water. It spears a fish underwater, bringing it above the surface, tossing and juggling it before swallowing the fish head first. The body remains submerged as it swims, and the slender neck alone is visible above the water, which accounts for the colloquial name of snakebird. Like the cormorants, it has wettable feathers and it is often found perched on a rock or branch with its wings held open to dry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black eagle</span> Species of bird

The black eagle is a bird of prey. Like all eagles, it is in the family Accipitridae, and is the only member of the genus Ictinaetus. They soar over forests in the hilly regions of tropical and subtropical South and Southeast Asia, as well as southeastern China. They hunt mammals and birds, particularly at their nests. They are easily identified by their widely splayed and long primary "fingers", the characteristic silhouette, slow flight and yellow ceres and legs that contrast with their dark feathers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-rumped flameback</span> Species of bird

The black-rumped flameback, also known as the lesser golden-backed woodpecker or lesser goldenback, is a woodpecker found widely distributed in the Indian subcontinent. It is one of the few woodpeckers that are seen in urban areas. It has a characteristic rattling-whinnying call and an undulating flight. It is the only golden-backed woodpecker with a black throat and a black rump.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Purple-rumped sunbird</span> Species of bird

The purple-rumped sunbird is a sunbird endemic to the Indian Subcontinent. Like other sunbirds, they are small in size, feeding mainly on nectar but sometimes take insects, particularly when feeding young. They can hover for short durations but usually perch to lap nectar from flowers. They build a hanging pouch nest made up of cobwebs, lichens and plant material. Males are contrastingly coloured but females are olive above and yellow to buff below. Males are easily distinguished from the purple sunbird by the light coloured underside while females can be told apart from males by their whitish throats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashy-crowned sparrow-lark</span> Species of bird

The ashy-crowned sparrow-lark is a small sparrow-sized member of the lark family, belonging to the genus of sparrow larks. It is found in the plains in open land with bare ground, grass and scrub across South Asia. The males are well marked with a contrasting black-and-white face pattern, while females are sandy brown, looking similar to a female sparrow. Males are easily detected during the breeding season by the long descending whistle that accompanies their undulating and dive-bombing flight displays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-billed babbler</span> Species of brown-grey bird from southern India and Sri Lanka

The yellow-billed babbler is a member of the family Leiothrichidae endemic to southern India and Sri Lanka. The yellow-billed babbler is a common resident breeding bird in Sri Lanka and southern India. Its habitat is scrub, cultivation and garden land. This species, like most babblers, is not migratory, and has short rounded wings and a weak flight and is usually seen calling and foraging in groups. It is often mistaken for the jungle babbler, whose range overlaps in parts of southern India, although it has a distinctive call and tends to be found in more vegetated habitats. Its name is also confused with Turdoides leucocephala, which is also known as white-headed babbler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashy drongo</span> Species of bird

The ashy drongo is a species of bird in the drongo family Dicruridae. It is found widely distributed across eastern and Southeast Asia, with several populations that vary in the shade of grey, migration patterns and in the size or presence of white patches around the eye.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thick-billed flowerpecker</span> Species of bird

The thick-billed flowerpecker is a tiny bird in the flowerpecker group. They feed predominantly on fruits and are active birds that are mainly seen in the tops of trees in forests. It is a resident bird with a wide distribution across tropical southern Asia from India east to Indonesia and Timor with several populations recognized as subspecies some of which are sometimes treated as full species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian cuckoo</span> Species of bird

The Indian cuckoo or short-winged cuckoo is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes, that is found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It ranges from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia and north to China and Russia. It is a solitary and shy bird, found in forests and open woodland at up to 3,600 m (11,800 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian grey hornbill</span> Species of bird

The Indian gray hornbill is a common hornbill found on the Indian subcontinent. It is mostly arboreal and is commonly sighted in pairs. It has grey feathers all over the body with a light grey or dull white belly. The horn is black or dark grey with a casque extending to the point of curvature of the horn. It is one of the few hornbill species found in urban areas in many cities where they are able to make use of large trees in avenues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black baza</span> Species of bird

The black baza is a small bird of prey found in the forests of Northeast India, the eastern Himalayas, China and Southeast Asia. Many populations are migratory, including those in the Indian region, which winter in the south of the Peninsula and Sri Lanka. Black bazas have short, stout legs and feet with strong talons, and a prominent crest. They are found in dense forest, often in small groups, and can often be found perched on bare branches of tall trees rising above the forest canopy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baya weaver</span> Species of bird found in southeast Asia

The baya weaver is a weaverbird found across the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Flocks of these birds are found in grasslands, cultivated areas, scrub and secondary growth and they are best known for their hanging retort shaped nests woven from leaves. These nest colonies are usually found on thorny trees or palm fronds and the nests are often built near water or hanging over water where predators cannot reach easily. They are widespread and common within their range but are prone to local, seasonal movements mainly in response to rain and food availability.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bank myna</span> Species of bird

The bank myna is a myna found in the northern parts of South Asia. It is smaller but similar in colouration to the common myna, only differing in having brick-red naked skin behind the eyes instead of yellow. It is greyer on the underside and in this and in the presence of a slight tuft of feathers bears some resemblance to the jungle myna. They are found in flocks on the plains of northern and central India, often within towns and cities. Their range appears to be extending southwards into India. The name is derived from their habit of nesting almost exclusively in the earthen banks of rivers, where they excavate burrows and breed in large colonies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashy minivet</span> Species of bird

The ashy minivet is a passerine bird of eastern Asia belonging to the minivet genus Pericrocotus in the cuckooshrike family Campephagidae. While most of the minivets have shades of yellow, orange and red in their plumage, this species has only greys, whites and blacks. The male is distinctive with a white face and black nape although females can be confused with the female of the brown-rumped minivet. They forage in the canopy, often along with other minivets and join mixed-species foraging flocks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Artamidae</span> Family of birds

Artamidae is a family of passerine birds found in Australia, the Indo-Pacific region, and Southern Asia. It includes 24 extant species in six genera and three subfamilies: Peltopsinae, Artaminae and Cracticinae. Artamids used to be monotypic, containing only the woodswallows, but it was expanded to include the family Cracticidae in 1994. Some authors, however, still treat the two as separate families. Some species in this family are known for their beautiful song. Their feeding habits vary from nectar sucking (woodswallows) to predation on small birds.

References

  1. BirdLife International (2016). "Artamus fuscus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22706302A94061518. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22706302A94061518.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Rasmussen, PC & JC Anderton (2005). Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Volume 2. Washington DC & Barcelona: Smithsonian Institution and Lynx Edicions. p. 593.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ali, S & SD Ripley. Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan. Volume 5 (2nd ed.). New Delhi: Oxford University Press. pp. 143–145.
  4. Legge, WV (1880). A History of the Birds of Ceylon. Volume 2. pp. 665–669.
  5. Stonor, CR (1946). "The Ashy Swallow-Shrike (Artamus fuscus) in the Nilgiris". J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 46 (1): 184.
  6. Anderson, RC (2007). "New records of birds from the Maldives" (PDF). Forktail. 23: 135–144. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-10.
  7. Inglis, CM (1951). "The Ashy Swallow-Shrike (Artamus fuscus Vieillot) at a bird bath". J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 50 (1): 174.
  8. Santharam, V (1981). "Some interesting observations: Ashy Swallow-Shrike (Artamus fuscus) on the ground". Newsletter for Birdwatchers . 21 (9–10): 13–14.
  9. Santharam, V (1984). "A novel nest of the Ashy Swallow-Shrike". Newsletter for Birdwatchers . 24 (7–8): 8–9.
  10. Thyagaraju, AS (1933). "A note on the migration of the Swallow-Shrike Artamus fuscus (Vieil)". J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 36 (4): 996.
  11. Lowery Jr., GH & JP O'Neill (1966). "A new genus and species of Cotinga from eastern Peru" (PDF). The Auk. 83 (1): 1–9. doi:10.2307/4082975. JSTOR   4082975.
  12. James, HF (2009). "Repeated Evolution of Fused Thoracic Vertebrae in Songbirds" (PDF). The Auk. 126 (4): 862–872. doi:10.1525/auk.2009.08194. S2CID   59479186.
  13. Skoracki, Maciej (2004). "A review of quill mites of the genus Syringophiloidus Kethley, 1970 parasitizing quills of passeriform birds, with descriptions of four new species (Acari: Prostigmata: Syringophilidae)" (PDF). Genus. 15 (2): 281–300.