Masked Woodswallows around Broome

Masked Woodswallows-Artamus personatus– are an Australian bird that is very nomadic and can appear in large flocks like we encountered in May near the Fortescue River in the Pilbara or in smaller flocks like we are seeing around Broome this year. There are often large flocks of White-breasted Woodswallows around Broome and they are often seen cuddled close together in trees or on power lines when there are no trees! After our recent wet weather and a large number of grasshoppers and other insects becoming available around Broome it makes sense that we should see an increased number of Masked Woodswallows this year. They are often perched on barbed wire fences in between their feeding sessions and have been relatively easy to photograph for a change! Instead of the white breast of the aptly named White-breasted Woodswallow they have a silver delicate grey front and their face is ‘masked’ with a black or dusky grey face. The male Masked Woodswallow has a much darker face than the female. Young Masked Woodswallows have very little colouring around their heads to determine the sex and we have encountered them waiting near their parents for food as shown in the photograph above and below.

Young Masked Woodswallow

The adult Masked Woodswallows associating with the young bird above were perched on the rusty barbed wire fence a few metres away and were swooping for insects and dropping back to the wire. The colouring of the male Masked Woodswallow is a lot more distinct than that of the female bird, especially around the face.

Male and female Masked Woodswallow

Male Masked Woodswallow

Another pair of Masked Woodswallows that I managed to photograph on a newer barbed wire fence, hence the lack of rust, were not as obliging and the female Masked Woodswallow was not as keen to show her face! The male Masked Woodswallow does show its ‘mask’ well, though.

Male and female Masked Woodswallow

Male Masked Woodswallow

Despite the large range of Masked Woodswallows throughout Australia they are a species that comes and goes as the environment changes. In Western Australia you always need to keep an eye out for the occasional White-browed Woodswallow among a flock of Masked Woodswallows, whilst in eastern Australia the Masked Woodswallow is the bird to look out for among the White-browed Woodswallows and they occasionally interbreed. All of the Woodswallow species are more likely to be above you feeding than roosting, so keep your eyes to the sky!