Banded Martin Neophedina cincta Scientific name definitions

17 cm; 19–30 g. Has blackish lores and line through eye, white stripe from base of bill to above eye; crown and upperparts , including wings and tail, dark brown, tail square; underparts white , brown breastband . Differs from Riparia riparia in larger size, white supercilium. Sexes alike. Juvenile has rufous to cream feather edges on upperparts, pale breastband. Races differ in size and in shade of brown: erlangeri is larger than nominate, has narrower breastband; <em>suahelica</em> is darker ; <em>xerica</em> is pale; parvula resembles last, but has broader breastband.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Song is a squeaky warbling  , sometimes ending in a trill; also a louder chattering and short calls “chip”, “chrip”, “kip”.

May–Aug in Ethiopia, Feb–Jun and Aug–Sept in E Africa, Jul in DRCongo, mostly Nov–Dec in Angola, and Aug, Oct and Dec–Jan in Zambia; mainly Sept–Apr in S, with early peak in SW Cape. Solitary. Digs burrow in vertical bank, e.g. along river or embankment, near water, burrow usually c. 60–90 cm long, but 40–50 cm recorded in hard ground; roof of aardvark (Orycteropus afer) burrow, disused starling (Sturnidae) burrow and drainage pipe also occasionally used; nest-chamber lined with grass and feathers. Clutch 2–5 eggs, 2–4 in S Africa; incubating bird said to be fed by mate, incubation period not recorded; both sexes feed chicks, one visit every 10 minutes, fledging period 21–24 days. Longevity at least 4 years.