The black saw-wing (Psalidoprocne pristoptera), also known as the blue saw-wing or black rough-winged swallow, is a small passerinebird in the swallow family.
The black rough-winged swallow breeds in open wooded habitats, and has a preference for wetter areas, although some races occur in mountain grassland habitat. It breeds across Africa from eastern Nigeria and Ethiopia south to Angola, northern Zimbabwe and northern Mozambique. The subspecies P. p. holomelaena breeds down south-eastern Africa from southern Mozambique to the Cape in South Africa.
This species is mainly resident, apart from seasonal local or altitudinal movements, but P. p. holomelaena is migratory, spending the southern winter north of the breeding range. The nominate race P. p. pristoptera of the mountains of northern Ethiopia moves south after breeding.
DescriptionEdit
The black rough-winged swallow is a small swallow at 13–15 cm length with a forked tail. Its plumage is blue-glossed black. Sexes are similar, but the female has shorter outer tail feathers, and less obvious wing serrations. Juveniles are brown with little gloss, and have short tails.
There are many subspecies of this swallow, which some authorities may split into different species. In particular, four northeastern races, including nominate P. p. pristoptera, have conspicuous white underwing coverts (all other subspecies are green-glossed and have completely dark underwings), and may be split as the eastern rough-winged swallow or eastern saw-wing (swallow), P. orientalis. This leaves P. p. holomelaena as the black rough-winged swallow, P. holomelaena. Other subspecies are also sometimes elevated to species status, but Turner and Rose take the view that all the races of the black rough-winged swallow are, at best, incipient species.
Eastern saw-wing Psalidoprocne (pristoptera) orientalis
Includes the race reichenowi
Black saw-wing Psalidoprocne (pristoptera) holomelas
Includes races massaica and ruwenzori
BehaviourEdit
Black rough-winged swallows are usually seen in pairs or small groups hunting for flying insects in woodland clearings and edges, above forest, or over water. Their flight is weak and fluttering. It is a quiet species, but it gives a soft chrrp alarm call. There is also a contact call described for as chirr chirr cheeeu for P. p. holomelaena and tseeu tseu tsss-ip for orientalis.
BreedingEdit
The nest is constructed from grass, moss or similar materials, and built in a 30–60 cm long burrow in a vertical sand or clay bank. This is usually an old burrow of another species like a kingfisher, but may be excavated by the breeding pair. The clutch is two, sometimes three, white eggs. Only one parent, probably the female, incubates for 14–19 days to hatching, with a further 24–27 days until the young fledge.
ReferencesEdit
^BirdLife International (2017). "Psalidoprocne pristoptera". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22712540A118747961. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22712540A118747961.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
Sinclair, Hockey and Tarboton, SASOL Birds of Southern Africa, ISBN1-86872-721-1
(Black saw-wing = ) Black saw-winged swallow Psalidoprocne holomelaena - Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds.
(Black saw-wing = ) Eastern saw-winged swallow Psalidoprocne orientalis - Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds.
October 26, 2023
black, wing, black, wing, psalidoprocne, pristoptera, also, known, blue, wing, black, rough, winged, swallow, small, passerine, bird, swallow, family, conservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, scientific, classificationdomain, eukaryotakingdom, animaliaphylum,. The black saw wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera also known as the blue saw wing or black rough winged swallow is a small passerine bird in the swallow family Black saw wingConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClade DinosauriaClass AvesOrder PasseriformesFamily HirundinidaeGenus PsalidoprocneSpecies P pristopteraBinomial namePsalidoprocne pristoptera Ruppell 1840 Contents 1 Distribution and habitat 2 Description 3 Subspecies 4 Behaviour 4 1 Breeding 5 References 6 External linksDistribution and habitat EditThe black rough winged swallow breeds in open wooded habitats and has a preference for wetter areas although some races occur in mountain grassland habitat It breeds across Africa from eastern Nigeria and Ethiopia south to Angola northern Zimbabwe and northern Mozambique The subspecies P p holomelaena breeds down south eastern Africa from southern Mozambique to the Cape in South Africa This species is mainly resident apart from seasonal local or altitudinal movements but P p holomelaena is migratory spending the southern winter north of the breeding range The nominate race P p pristoptera of the mountains of northern Ethiopia moves south after breeding Description EditThe black rough winged swallow is a small swallow at 13 15 cm length with a forked tail Its plumage is blue glossed black Sexes are similar but the female has shorter outer tail feathers and less obvious wing serrations Juveniles are brown with little gloss and have short tails There are many subspecies of this swallow which some authorities may split into different species In particular four northeastern races including nominate P p pristoptera have conspicuous white underwing coverts all other subspecies are green glossed and have completely dark underwings and may be split as the eastern rough winged swallow or eastern saw wing swallow P orientalis This leaves P p holomelaena as the black rough winged swallow P holomelaena Other subspecies are also sometimes elevated to species status but Turner and Rose take the view that all the races of the black rough winged swallow are at best incipient species Subspecies EditShari saw wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera chalybdea Petit s saw wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera petiti Mangbettu saw wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera mangbettorum Ethiopian saw wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera oleaginea Blue saw wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera pristoptera Brown saw wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera antinorii Blanford s saw wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera blanfordi Eastern saw wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera orientalis Includes the race reichenowi Black saw wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera holomelas Includes races massaica and ruwenzoriBehaviour EditBlack rough winged swallows are usually seen in pairs or small groups hunting for flying insects in woodland clearings and edges above forest or over water Their flight is weak and fluttering It is a quiet species but it gives a soft chrrp alarm call There is also a contact call described for as chirr chirr cheeeu for P p holomelaena and tseeu tseu tsss ip for orientalis Breeding Edit The nest is constructed from grass moss or similar materials and built in a 30 60 cm long burrow in a vertical sand or clay bank This is usually an old burrow of another species like a kingfisher but may be excavated by the breeding pair The clutch is two sometimes three white eggs Only one parent probably the female incubates for 14 19 days to hatching with a further 24 27 days until the young fledge References Edit BirdLife International 2017 Psalidoprocne pristoptera IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017 e T22712540A118747961 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2017 3 RLTS T22712540A118747961 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Sinclair Hockey and Tarboton SASOL Birds of Southern Africa ISBN 1 86872 721 1 Turner and Rose Swallows and Martins ISBN 0 7470 3202 5External links Edit Black saw wing Black saw winged swallow Psalidoprocne holomelaena Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds Black saw wing Eastern saw winged swallow Psalidoprocne orientalis Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Black saw wing amp oldid 1181684533, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
