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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Artamidae
  4. ›
  5. Artamus
  6. ›
  7. Black-faced Woodswallow
Black-faced Woodswallow
Photo · (c) Justine Lee Hirten, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Black-faced Woodswallow

Artamus cinereusVieillot, 1817

Updated 21 March 2026

Also known asBe-wo-en

Conservation status: Least ConcernOrigin: Native
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Artamidae
Genus
Artamus

At a glance

The Black-faced Woodswallow is a small bird, about 17–19 cm long, listed as Least Concern and native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
17–19 cm
Conservation status
Least Concern
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Black-faced Woodswallow look like?

The Black-faced Woodswallow is a small bird, about 17–19 cm long and weighing 24–44 g.

The black-faced woodswallow is a woodswallow of the genus Artamus native to Australia, New Guinea, and the Sunda Islands, including Timor. It is 18–19 cm (7.1–7.5 in) long and is the most widespread species in the family Artamidae. Woodswallows have a soft call with chiff, chap and chattering calls which can include vocal mimicry

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
17–19 cm
Weight
24.4–43.5 g
Wingspan
32 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Black-faced Woodswallow?

The Black-faced Woodswallow is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Black-faced Woodswallow eat?

The Black-faced Woodswallow feeds on nectar/pollen and terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or flocks or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

5 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Black-faced Woodswallow live in Australia?

The Black-faced Woodswallow is native to Australia, recorded across 80 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingEast Lesser Sundas, Australia and south-central New Guinea

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Vagrant
  • Breeding

8 regions recorded