Dusky Woodswallow Artamus cyanopterus Scientific name definitions

18 cm; 21–47 g. Nominate race is mostly smoky grey-brown above and below; upperwing gunmetal-grey, white streak on outer web of outer 2–4 long primaries; tail black, all except central pair of rectrices tipped white; iris dark brown; bill pale blue-grey, tipped black; legs grey-black. Sexes similar. Juvenile differs from adult mainly in having dense whitish streaking above , tertials and upperwing-coverts with pale tips, narrow pale fringes on tips of remiges, diffuse pale streaking  on underparts . Race <em>perthi</em> is very like nominate, but has less white on primaries (restricted to outer 2–3 long primaries) and less white in outer tail feather.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Open forest , woodlands and agricultural areas receiving more than 400 mm annual rainfall.

Mostly insects; insects nectar and fruit, also some seeds, occasionally taken. Captures animal prey  usually on the wing while trawling above canopy, or snatches items in pursuit from a perch. In windy weather may forage on the ground, and take ants (Formi­cidae). Forages singly or in small parties, sometimes in larger flocks; occasionally in mixed-species flocks.

Contact call a brisk "peet-peet", in flight or when perched; also brassy chirps or chirrups and a softer "vut-vut". Song quiet but animated, sometimes includes mimicry.

Season Aug–Feb (mainly Oct–Dec), in austral spring. Nests usually as simple pair; sometimes breeds co-operatively, with one or two helpers. Nest, built by both members of pair, an untidy, shallow open cup made from twigs, rootlets and grass, lined with finer materials (sometimes including horsehair), occasionally unlined, placed in crotch or fork of tree or shrub, in hollow limb or stump, behind bark or on weathered top of fence post. Clutch 2–3 eggs, sometimes 4, rarely 1; incubation by both sexes, period 14–15 days, sometimes up to 17 days; chicks brooded and fed by both parents, also by any helpers present, nestling period 16–19 days, generally 18 days.

Not globally threatened. Common locally throughout its range. May have benefited from increase in available habitat following clearance for agriculture; such clearing, however, also permits competition with A. cinereus in Western Australia.