Black-faced Woodswallow

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Luritja Road x Ernest Giles Road, SE NT IMG_9018 20180711 - melanops very like ciereus but smaller. Broad white tips
to outer tail feathers. Central feather tips black.

Notes: Brownish-grey above & pale grey below, w. small black facial mask. Undertail coverts &
ventral area much darker than belly. Triangular wings; outer retrices white, inner black. Ssp
melanops is smaller than nominate cinereus, slightly less dark above & below. Two white-vented
ssp normani (face mask smaller) & dealbatus (black band on rear flanks & across lower belly).
Common thru arid & semi-arid zone in dry open woodlands. Sedentary. Forages mostly aerially.

Range from Morcombe & Stewart^©(modified)

Old Andado Station, SE NT IMG_8483 20180707 - melanops ventral area & undertail coverts black.

Waddi Trees, 12km N of Birdville, FSW Qld IMG_6010 20200919 - melanops ventral area & undertail coverts black.

Coongie Lakes NP, NW of Innamincka, NE SA IMG_9853 20170601 - melanops seems fairly common for some white tips
to black undertail coverts.

Cumberland Dam, Georgetown, FN Qld IMG_0868 20210509 - normani white undertail coverts, distinctive tail pattern.
CLICK for another view.

Nifold Plain, Lakeland NP, CYPAL, FNE Qld IMG_1649 20220901 - normani CLICK for another pic.

Giru Boat Ramp, S of Townsville, NE Qld IMG_2006 20180511 - dealbatus white undertail coverts.

Scrammy Waterhole, Bladensburg NP, NC Qld IMG_3693 20200905 - dealbatus but possibly w. melanops influence:
undertail coverts mixed.

Cumberland Dam, Georgetown, FN Qld IMG_1190 20210510 - normani