11, see text Woodswallows are soft-plumaged, somber-coloured passerine birds in the genus Artamus.

The generic name, which in turn gives rise to the family name, is derived from the Ancient Greek artamos, meaning butcher or murder.

The ashy woodswallow has an exclusively Asian distribution, ranging from India and Sri Lanka through South East Asia to China, and the most widespread species is the white-breasted woodswallow, which ranges from Peninsular Malaysia through to Australia in the south and Vanuatu and New Caledonia.

One sedentary species aside, they are nomads, following the best conditions for flying insects, and often roosting in large flocks.

The nests of woodswallows are loosely constructed from fine twigs, and both parents help rear the young.