Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus is the only representative in China of the monogeneric family Artamidae. Resident western Yunnan east across southern Guangxi to southern Guangdong and Hainan. HABITAT & BEHAVIOR Open country with scattered trees, in particular tall palm trees; to 1500 m (4,920 ft.). Perches on high, bare branches and on telephone wires, often in small, huddled flocks; soars and glides in swallow-like flight, taking insects on the wing. Also laps nectar with brushy tongue. ID Stocky, long-winged, and square-tailed (the latter character distinguishing it from swallows). In flight, pointy, wide-based wings have strong triangular appearance. Head ashy-grey, in slight contrast to nape, mantle, back, and rump having brownish tinge (not always apparent); lores blackish. Uppertail coverts have narrow white band. Dark grey tail tipped white. Underparts pinkish-grey. Whiter vent and undertail coverts may show indistinct brownish-grey barring. Juvenile browner on head and upperparts, with narrow buff-white fringes on mantle, back, and wing feathers, giving scaly appearance; paler below with brownish cast on breast. BARE PARTS Bill stout, finch-like, silvery (brownish-pink cast in juvenile), with black tip; feet grey. VOICE Call a squeaky, nasal chek. VOICE Song a chattering twitter, with interspersed calls. Song and call reminiscent of Barn Swallow, but stronger and more nasal. — Craig Brelsford
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Daniel Bengtsson served as chief ornithological consultant for Craig Brelsford’s Photographic Field Guide to the Birds of China, from which this species description is drawn.
