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WoodlandCavity nestSmall · 40 g
What the Ashy Woodswallow sounds like
ID tip
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.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Ashy Woodswallow
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is February, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Ashy Woodswallow
The map shades 12 countries with regular records, and 1 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in Malaysia.
About the Ashy Woodswallow
The ashy woodswallow, 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.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Dusky WoodswallowArtamus cyanopterusThe dusky woodswallow is medium-sized and swallow-like, with a dark brown hue, but there have been instances where the bird has appeared grey.
White-breasted WoodswallowArtamus leucorynchusThe white-breasted woodswallow's plumage is dark grey on the head and neck, with white underparts, giving the species its common and scientific names, in contrast to the related great woodswallow whose upper side is a more glossy black.
Black-faced WoodswallowArtamus cinereusThe black-faced woodswallow is 18–19 cm (7.1–7.5 in) in length, and weighs 32–40 g (1.1–1.4 oz).
Side by side: Ashy Woodswallow vs White-breasted Woodswallow · Ashy Woodswallow vs Dusky Woodswallow · Ashy Woodswallow vs Black-faced Woodswallow
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