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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Artamidae
  4. ›
  5. Artamus
  6. ›
  7. White-browed Woodswallow
White-browed Woodswallow
Photo · (c) Lachlan Copeland, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

BirdUp · Species

White-browed Woodswallow

Artamus superciliosus(Gould, 1837)

Updated 21 March 2026

Origin: Endemic
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Artamidae
Genus
Artamus

At a glance

The White-browed Woodswallow is a small bird, about 18–20 cm long, endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
18–20 cm
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Endemic
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a White-browed Woodswallow look like?

The White-browed Woodswallow is a small bird, about 18–20 cm long and weighing 30–41 g.

The white-browed woodswallow is a medium-sized (~19 cm) passerine bird endemic to Australia. The white-browed woodswallow has very distinctive plumage consisting of white brow over a black head with the upper body being a deep blue-grey and with a chestnut under body. The females are paler then the males. The white-browed woodswallow has a bifurcated (divided) tongue like most woodswallows.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
18–20 cm
Weight
30–41.1 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a White-browed Woodswallow?

The White-browed 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 White-browed Woodswallow eat?

The White-browed Woodswallow feeds on nectar/pollen and terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or flocks.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

3 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the White-browed Woodswallow live in Australia?

The White-browed Woodswallow is endemic to Australia, recorded across 73 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingNorth-east WA to north-east QLC and south to south-east SA and VIC (central and east Australia)

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Breeding

8 regions recorded