Ashy Woodswallow

Artamus fuscus

Also known as: Ashy Wood Swallow

About This Species

A gregarious aerial forager of open country, farmland and forest edges across South and Southeast Asia, often seen perched in tight rows on wires or bare branches between sallying flights to catch insects on the wing. The stocky grey-brown body, chestnut undertail and habit of returning repeatedly to the same perch make it easy to pick out. Most active hunting insects in open airspace during the warmer daylight hours, and readily found near villages and cultivated land.

Ethical Viewing Guidelines

This is a tolerant, common species around human settlement, so observation from a normal distance of several metres without approaching perches directly is generally sufficient.
Wildlife protection law varies across the South and Southeast Asian countries it occupies, so treat any nesting birds as sensitive and avoid disturbing nest holes or family groups.
Watching from a stationary position rather than following the birds between perches causes the least disruption.

LCAvesPasseriformesArtamidae

Seasonal Activity

173,544 sightings · 2000–2026

Citizen science records via GBIF

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Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Artamidae

Photo

CC-BY-NC-4.0

Occurrence data from GBIF.