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Alternative name: Brown-throated Martin
- Riparia paludicola
Identification
- Brown upper parts and throat.
- Slightly forked tail.
- The color of the underparts vary geographically, varying from white to brownish.
- Sexes similar, no seasonal variation.
Similar species
Small hirundine with character and behaviour of Sand Martin, but rather more compact form. Both upperparts and underparts duller than Sand Martin, contrasting less and no chest-band.
Distribution
Large range in tropical and subtropical Africa.
Taxonomy
Seven subspecies accepted:
- R. p. mauritanica in western Morocco
- R. p. minor from West Africa to Sudan and northeast Ethiopia
- R. p. schoensis in the Highlands of Ethiopia
- R. p. newtoni from eastern Nigeria to western Cameroon
- R. p. ducis from eastern Zaire to Uganda, Kenya and central Tanzania
- R. p. paludicola from Angola to Zambia, southern Tanzania and South Africa
- R. p. cowani in Madagascar
Grey-throated Martin was formerly included in this species.
Habitat
Common resident and local migrant to areas of preferably riverine riparian forest. Often near water.
Behaviour
Roosts in reeds in often large communities in non-breeding seasons.
Diet
Feeds mainly on flying insects that are caught in a short, but wide bill. Often seen near wild fires and feeding mammals catching disturbed insects. Concentrates at emergences of termites.
Breeding
Breeds mainly in winter, but breeding may occur thoughout the year. Breeds communally. Nests in excavated tunnel in river or gorge bank. 2-4 white eggs. Male and female incubate both during 12 days. In Morocco extended range espcially when water is abudant.
References
- Clements, J. F., P. C. Rasmussen, T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, A. Spencer, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2023. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2023. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- BirdLife International (2008) The BirdLife checklist of the birds of the world, with conservation status and taxonomic sources. Version 1. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/spe..._Version_1.zip [.xls zipped 1 MB]. For more details, see: http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/taxonomy.html
- Trevor Carnaby, Beat About The Bush, Birds, www.Jacana.co.za, ISBN 978-1-77009-241-9
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Plain Martin. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 18 October 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Plain_Martin
