Ashy Woodswallow

Some years ago, outside Dhaka, my car was crossing an empty bridge. From the top of the bridge, I saw a flock of perhaps fifteen small birds sitting in a row on an electrical wire running parallel to the bridge. In the cool winter's morning they snuggled next to each other, their soft downy feathers keeping them warm.

The wire was at the same height as I was, so it was a wonderful photo opportunity. But I also knew that the moment I opened the car door, the birds would fly. So I instructed my driver to finish crossing the bridge and then turn the car around.

Back on the bridge, I stopped the car and took several photographs from within. Then I opened the door and alighted very slowly, bending my knees to keep a low profile. One bird from each end immediately flew away. As I continued shooting, another pair flew, then one more. The last few flew off synchronously, but I ended with some decent photographs.

They were ashy woodswallows (artimus fuscus, metematha bonababil).  These are dark birds with ash coloured wings and a dark-red chest, about 19cm long and weighing about 40 grams. Their outsized square black heads and thick, plier-shaped beaks lend them a slightly menacing look. Year-round residents of our land, they breed from March to June, usually making their nests in leaves of palm trees. The birds will sit on a perch looking out for flying prey such as dragonflies, butterflies and termites. When they spot their prey, they will fly swiftly from their perch, snatch it from the air and eat it quickly - sometimes in flight - before returning to the perch.

Since that winter day, I have not seen ashy woodswallows in a large group, but I have seen individuals and pairs.  Recently I saw several at Purbachol. One was on a wire and squawked loudly when I approached. As I got closer it moved twenty feet down the wire. This repeated several times, but because of the height of the wire I was unable to get a decent photograph.

Another time I was watching a large swarm of dragonflies circling busily, also in Purbachol. Suddenly, a dark small bird swooped in from above. At first I thought it was a swift which is very difficult to photograph, so I did not raise my camera. It flew away, made a circle, and returned. That's when I realized it was a slower bird and aimed my camera at it. It was carrying a dragonfly in its mouth and shooting straight up when I captured it.

An interesting feature of the ashy woodswallow is its powder down. Some of its feathers disintegrate and become powdery. The bird then spreads this powder to the rest of the feathers when preening. The powder helps clean and waterproof the feathers.

So see this distinctive bird, head over to one of the villages in Purbachol and keep an eye on wires, pillars and treetops where you might find it perched, scanning the air for a meal.

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