Photo: Joseph Smit / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Ivory-backed Woodswallow
Artamus monachus
Ivory-backed Woodswallow (Artamus monachus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Ivory-backed Woodswallow (Artamus monachus) is a member of the Artamidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 51.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Artamidae Woodswallows, Butcherbirds & Allies
- Genus Artamus
- Species monachus
Where it lives
Sulawesi, Lembeh (east of northeastern Sulawesi), Togian Is. (between northeastern and east-central Sulawesi), Butung (south of southeastern Sulawesi), Banggai and Sula is. (east of Sulawesi)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 51.3 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Artamidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Ivory-backed Woodswallow is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Ivory-backed Woodswallow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Ivory-backed Woodswallow (Artamus monachus) is a member of the Artamidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Sulawesi, Lembeh (e of ne Sulawesi), Togian Is. (between ne and ec Sulawesi), Butung (s of se Sulawesi), Banggai and Sula is. (e of Sulawesi).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 51.3 g, with a wing length of about 15.2 cm and a tail of around 7.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 182,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Ivory-backed Woodswallow?
The Ivory-backed Woodswallow is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 51.3 g.
Where does the Ivory-backed Woodswallow live?
The Ivory-backed Woodswallow is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Sulawesi, Lembeh (e of ne Sulawesi), Togian Is. (between ne and ec Sulawesi), Butung (s of se Sulawesi), Banggai and Sula is. (e of Sulawesi), where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Ivory-backed Woodswallow belong to?
The Ivory-backed Woodswallow (Artamus monachus) belongs to the Artamidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Ivory-backed Woodswallow eat?
The Ivory-backed Woodswallow is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Ivory-backed Woodswallow migrate?
The Ivory-backed Woodswallow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Ivory-backed Woodswallow endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Ivory-backed Woodswallow make?
1 real field recording of the Ivory-backed Woodswallow — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Ivory-backed Woodswallow's range?
The Ivory-backed Woodswallow has a mapped global range of about 182,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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