The ‘white-rumped woodswallow’

Summer visitors to the district, the White-breasted Woodswallow is perhaps more aptly described as the ‘white-rumped woodswallow’.

Of the six Australian species of woodswallow, several have pale underparts (Masked and to a lesser extent Black-faced), but the White-breasted Woodswallow alone has a pale rump.

Four species of woodswallow occur locally – Dusky, White-browed, Masked and White-breasted. The latter three are strong spring/autumn migrants, the Dusky Woodswallow less so, with a few birds present year round in some years.

White-breasted Woodswallows are almost always found near water, usually where mature River Red-gums are present. In wet years they thrive on the Moolort Plains wetlands, whereas in dry times they can be seen around Cairn Curran and along the more open sections of the Loddon River. The birds pictured below were seen yesterday, ‘hawking’ butterflies at Joyce’s Creek. The warm evening air was alive with insects (swarms of tiny midges can be seen in the first two images) and the woodswallows were enjoying rich pickings as the butterflies (mainly Common Brown) were being carried into their path on a gentle northerly.

White-breasted Woodswallows breed during their stay – several of the birds pictured are immatures going by the buff-tipped feathers on their upperparts.

White-breasted Woodswallow, Joyce’s Creek, 31st March 2024

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