Woodswallows

Woodswallows are a small family of passerine birds, Artamidae, comprising 12 species in seven genera. These birds are found in Australia and Southeast Asia. They are typically medium-sized, with broad wings and a short, slightly hooked bill. Their plumage is often grey or black, sometimes with white markings. Woodswallows are known for their acrobatic flight and are often seen soaring high in the sky. They feed primarily on insects, which they catch on the wing or glean from foliage. Some species also consume nectar, pollen, and fruit.

These birds often nest colonially, building cup-shaped nests in trees. Both parents typically participate in incubation and raising the young. Woodswallows are generally migratory, with some species traveling long distances between their breeding and wintering grounds. Their common name reflects their habit of perching and nesting in trees, though they are also found in open woodlands and savannas. Despite their name, they are not closely related to swallows, but rather to the Australasian shrike-tit and butcherbirds.