Brown-throated Martin

Afrikaans name: Afrikaanse oewerswael

Brown-throated Martin

Photo © Steven Herbert

Riparia paludicola

As far as Swallows and Martins go the Brown-throated Martin is one of the smaller ones found in South Africa. It is around 12 cm in length.

Male and female look the same. It is similar to the Rock Martin but it has a notch in its tail.

Brown-throated Martins are normally found near rivers, dams and lakes. They are normally seen in small flocks but occasionally they occur in flocks of a few hundred birds.

Their food consists entirely of insect caught in flight.

These Martins nest in burrows which they line with feathers and grass. They normally lay 3 eggs.

Top

References and further reading

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Year Published: 1983 - Page: 205

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1959 - Page: 82

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 82

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Year Published: 1992 - Page: 68

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Year Published: - Page: 153

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 175

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Year Published: 1999 - Page: 53

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 146

Ian Sinclair's Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Year Published: 1988 - Page: 210

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 1984 - Page: 236

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 2000 - Page: 236

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Year Published: 1949 - Page: 210

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 348

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1981 - Page: 359

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 467

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 461

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 286

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 300

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Year Published: 1989 - Page: 123

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Year Published: 1979 - Page: 31

List of South African Birds