Artamus leucorhynchus (Linnaeus, 1771)

Bishop, K. David, 2023, The avifauna of Biak Island, Papua, Indonesia with comments on status, conservation, natural history and taxonomy, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 143 (1), pp. 3-62 : 46

[WHITE-BREASTED WOODSWALLOW Artamus leucorhynchus ]

Status KDB recorded this species on 30 September‒1 October 1989 and 4‒5 June 1990 but without notes. Included to alert future observers as its presence is quite plausible. The species’ ability to cross water and colonise remote islands is illustrated by its global distribution ( Rowley & Russell 2020). Widespread throughout open and lightly wooded country of lowland mainland New Guinea ( Pratt & Beehler 2015) and from its base in Australia has occupied many islands in the south-west Pacific. Thus, its presence would not be surprising on Biak (note, not yet Supiori) given extensive areas of suitable habitat in the south of the island. Artamus has not been recorded on Yapen but may have been overlooked there.