Ashy Woodswallow - photo by JM Garg

Ashy Woodswallow (Artamus fuscus) is a probable rare winter visitor in Haryana.   Order: PASSERIFORMES   Family: Artamini   Call: 'chek chek' in flight

Identification: This is a grey bird, darker on the head and paler below, with long wings reaching the tip of the white-tipped tail. The head of a Woodswallow is proportionately larger as compared to its body and hence the bird looks top heavy. The bill is large, silvery-grey with a black tip. Ashy Woodswallows sit in groups, huddled together, on exposed bare branches and telegraph wires. Now and then, one or more will launch itself and fly round in a very martin-like way, hawking insects.