Fiji woodswallow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fiji woodswallow |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Artamidae |
| Genus: | Artamus |
| Species: |
A. mentalis
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| Binomial name | |
| Artamus mentalis Jardine, 1845
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| Synonyms | |
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Artamus leucorynchus mentalis |
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The Fiji woodswallow (Artamus mentalis) is a cool bird that lives only in the Fiji islands. It belongs to a group of birds called woodswallows. These birds are part of the Artamidae family. You can find them on most of Fiji's islands. However, they don't live on the Kadavu or Lau islands.
This bird used to be thought of as a type of white-breasted woodswallow. That bird lives in places like Australia, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Borneo, and the Philippines. Some scientists still think they are the same species.
The Fiji woodswallow is a strong, chunky bird. It is about 18 centimeters (7 inches) long. It has a thick, blue bill with a black tip. Its feathers are dark and sooty on top. But its belly, rump, and throat are white. You can tell it apart from the white-breasted woodswallow because its white throat goes all the way up to its bill.
Contents
Where Do Fiji Woodswallows Live?
The Fiji woodswallow lives only on the main islands of Fiji. These include Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, and Taveuni. It is not found on Kadavu, which is the fourth largest island. But it does live on smaller islands like Gau. This island is in the Lomaiviti group.
What Kind of Places Do They Like?
These birds naturally live in warm, wet lowland forests. They also like open grasslands called savannahs. But they are very good at adapting to new places. They can live in areas changed by humans, like farms. You can even find them in cities like Suva and Nadi. On Viti Levu, they live in the highlands. However, they don't live in the highlands of Taveuni.
Are They Nomads or Do They Stay Put?
Unlike some other woodswallows, the Fiji woodswallow stays in one place. They are not nomadic, meaning they don't travel around much. Family groups will often use the same tree for many years. They use it for sleeping and building nests. Scientists think this is because the weather in Fiji is not as extreme as in other places.
What Do Fiji Woodswallows Eat?
Fiji woodswallows mainly eat insects. Their favorite foods include moths, butterflies, dragonflies, and grasshoppers.
How Do They Catch Their Food?
Most of the time, they catch their food by "hawking." This means they sit on a high spot and watch for flying insects. When they see one, they quickly fly out to catch it. They usually catch insects in open areas. But sometimes they will grab prey close to the ground. They might also fly over flowers to snap up insects. They rarely land on the ground to catch food.
Smaller insects are swallowed whole. But larger ones are taken to a perch. The bird holds the insect with its foot and pecks it apart. They often pull off the wings of insects like dragonflies before eating them.
During the time they are raising their young, family groups will feed each other. If a bird gets injured, other birds in the group will feed it until it gets better.
How Do Fiji Woodswallows Behave Socially?
Fiji woodswallows are very social birds. They often gather together in tight groups on branches. At night, they usually roost (sleep) together. They sleep in the forks of their special nesting or roosting tree. If there's a storm, they will move further down the tree for shelter.
Who Are Their Enemies?
The Fiji woodswallow can be hunted by the peregrine falcon that lives in Fiji. Young woodswallows are also in danger from the Fiji goshawk.
Fiji woodswallows are very brave and aggressive. They will attack these birds of prey, even if it puts them in danger. They also attack introduced animals like cats and dogs. These animals were brought to Fiji by humans. The woodswallows will also chase away other introduced birds. These include the common myna and the red-vented bulbul. They do this to protect their nests and sleeping spots. But they are much nicer to native birds that don't cause problems, like the Fiji parrotfinch.
How Do Fiji Woodswallows Raise Their Young?
Some studies show that Fiji woodswallows have a special way of breeding. It's called "polygynandry." This is different from the white-breasted woodswallow, which usually has one male and one female pair. In Fiji woodswallows, two males and two females have been seen working together. They build the nest, sit on the eggs to keep them warm, and raise the young birds.
When Do They Start Nesting?
The nesting season starts in May. That's when they begin to build their nests. Building the nest is a team effort. All the birds in the group help out.
 | William L. Dawson |
 | W. E. B. Du Bois |
 | Harry Belafonte |
