Woodswallow

Woodswallow

There are approximately 10 species of woodswallow. Not true members of the swallow family, the wood swallow has a stout body, pointed wings and a short tail. They reach 5 to 8 inches in length and have soft plumage ranging in colour from brown to grey and black. The woodswallow lives in open country and prefers the company of a large flock. Unlike true swallows, which perch apart from each other, woodswallows sit huddled together on telephone wires and tree limbs, sometimes creating a pile of some 200 birds. Four species of this bird can be found from India to Fiji to Australia. [BM] {FW}