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The 'African River Martin' (''Pseudochelidon eurystomina'') is a passerine bird of the swallow family Hirundinidae. It is one of two members of the river martin subfamily ''Pseudochelidoninae'', the other being the White-eyed River Martin ''Pseudochelidon sirintarae'', known only from one site in Thailand. These two species possess a number of distinctive features which mark them out from other swallows and martins, namely their robust legs and feet, and stout bill.

Contents

Taxonomy

Distribution

Description

Behaviour

References

Taxonomy

When the African River Martin was first discovered in the 19th century, it was not thought to be a member of the swallow and martin family; Hartlaub placed it with the rollers, and later authors either placed it in its own family, or with the woodswallows. Study of the anatomy of the species by Lowe (1938) revealed that the species was closest to the swallows and martins, but sufficiently distinct to be placed in a separate subfamily.

Distribution

The African River Martin breeds along the Congo River and its tributary, the Ubangi. It is fairly common within its restricted range, despite being caught in large numbers by the local population for food. It is non-migratory, wintering in coastal savannah in southern Gabon. It has recently been discovered to also breed in that area

Description

The adult African River Martin is large, at 14 cm long. It is mainly black with a silky blue-green gloss, distinctly green on the back. It has a red eye and pink eye ing, and a broad orange red bill. The tail is square. The sexes are similar, but juveniles are dull sooty brown.
This species gives a short ''chee chee'' or similar call, and flocks call together, ''cheer-cheer-cheer''. This martin is very vocal on migration, giving harsh gull-like calls.

Behaviour

The habitat requirement of this species is forested rivers with sandbanks for breeding. The breeding season is December to April when the river is low. This species breeds in large colonies of up to 800 birds, each pair excavating a 1-2 m long tunnel in the sandbars. The pocket at the end of the tunnel has a few twigs and leaves to serve as a nest, onto which two to four unspotted white eggs are laid.
On the breeding grounds it rarely perches, but will walk on the ground; however, wintering birds regularly perch on treetops, wires and roofs. The African River Martin feeds in flocks over river and forest, often far from water on insects, mainly taking winged ants. The flight is strong and fast, interspersed with glides. It has chasing flight displays, and also displays on the ground, but the function of these displays is uncertain.

References

★ A handbook to the swallows and martins of the world, , Angela K, Turner, Christopher Helm, 1989,