Alice Springs Desert Park

ASDP Birds > Birds Index

The Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus) are found throughout inland Australia, being birds of wide open spaces. They are seen in agricultural regions and arid desert zones. They are also found near the coastal regions. They are native to Australia, New Guinea and the Sundra Islands.

A very social bird, the Black-faced Woodswallow often present that classical photograph of a group of them sitting together on branches and overhead lines. They also have a distinctive behaviour when roosting of clustering together, especially in a protected hollow. Whilst both parents will look after the nest, a family group are also known to help.


Images © Dorothy L


  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Aves
  • Order: Passeriformes
  • Family: Artamidae
  • Genus: Artamus
  • Species: Artamus cinereus
  • Subspecies:A.c. normani
    • A.c. dealbatus
    • A.c. cinereus
    • A.c. melanops

Footnote & References

  1. Black-faced Woodswallow, BirdLife Australia, https://www.birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/black-faced-woodswallow

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