Artamus cyanopterus Dusky Woodswallow
Artamus cyanopterus is known in Australia as the Dusky Woodswallow but is not actually a Swallow. It belongs to the Artamidae family which includes Currawongs and the Australian Magpie both of which are more like crows to a British bird observer. It lives in Eucalyptus forests in this part of the world and is quite a common bird.
The Dusky Wood swallow perhaps has one characteristic in common with a real swallow in that it will catch insects on the wing but it uses a variety of food sources including nectar and even robbing other birds such as the Restless Flycatcher (Myiagra inquieta) of the food it has caught. The most pleasing aspect of this bird from the photographer's point of view was its imperturbability. The pair here stayed fairly still overhead regardless of our movements below.
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| Artamus cyanopterus Dusky Woodswallow | Artamus cyanopterus Dusky Woodswallow |
Stirling Range bush complex, Western Australia 20th September 2012
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