- Pseudochelidon eurystomina
Identification
14 cm
- Mainly black with bluish-green gloss
- Green back
- Red eye, with a pink eye ring
- Broad orangey- red bill
- Square tail
The sexes are similar
Juveniles are dull sooty brown
Distribution
Western Africa: found in Equatorial Guinea, Congo, Zaire; winters in coastal Gabon
Taxonomy
Monotypic.
Habitat
Large forested rivers with islands with sandy shores for breeding and coastal savanna.
Behaviour
Breeding
It breeds in large colonies of up to 800 birds. The twig and leaf-lined nest is at the end of a long excavated tunnel in a sand bank. Two to four unspotted white eggs are laid.
Diet
The diet includes mainly winged ants and other insects.
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Avibase
- Wikipedia
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) African River Martin. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 27 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/African_River_Martin
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
