Dusky Woodswallow

1. Smoky grey-brown overall with a small dark mask

2. White stripe on the leading edge of the wing

3. Black tail with white corners

These birds are aerial insectivores, catching insects in flight above the canopy, but will also take nectar, fruit, and occasionally forage on the ground, especially in windy weather. Dusky Woodswallows breed from late September to late February, with most eggs laid between October and early December. Nests are untidy bowls of twigs and grass, placed in tree forks, stumps, or fence posts. Clutch size is typically 3–4 eggs. Both parents build the nest, incubate the eggs, and feed the young, with occasional help from other group members. Fledglings remain with the flock after leaving the nest, and family groups may persist for some time.

Dusky Woodswallows are common in open forests, woodlands, and farmland from Queensland’s Atherton Tableland to Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, and are regular summer migrants to Tasmania. They favour areas with open canopy and scattered trees, often perching on prominent dead branches or power lines. Flocks are usually small but can be larger outside the breeding season, and the birds are highly vocal, producing brisk “peet-peet” calls as they move through their habitat.