Wildlifeof Sri Lanka
Ashy Woodswallow
Songbirds
Photo: Philipp Steidle · CC BY 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Artamus fuscus
Basic stats
Habitat
Plains to about 2,000m, cultivated areas, forest clearings, often with tall palms
Range
South Asia: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia and China
The ashy woodswallow is a woodswallow of south Asia with a short curved bill, a short square tail and long wings. It is stocky, with ashy-grey upperparts, a darker head, a narrow pale rump band, a pinkish-grey underside and a short slaty-black tail tipped white, and a silvery finch-like bill. In flight the long wings look very broad at the base. It has no subspecies (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is usually seen perched in small groups, high on power lines or tall bare trees, most often where tall palms dominate, and it makes aerial sallies from these vantage points. Several birds may huddle side by side on bare branches. It is widely distributed from Bangladesh and India to China. Nationally Least Concern (Sri Lanka National Red List 2012).
Quick answers
- What habitat does the Ashy Woodswallow live in?
- Plains to about 2,000m, cultivated areas, forest clearings, often with tall palms
- Where is the Ashy Woodswallow found?
- South Asia: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia and China