Brazza's Martin Phedinopsis brazzae Scientific name definitions

12 cm; 13 g. Plumage is dark brown above, darkest on head, with indistinct dark streaks from mantle to uppertail-coverts; wings and tail dark brown, tail square-ended; underparts white with thick dark streaks, breast sometimes with gray-brown wash; underwing-coverts dark brown. Differs from Riparia species in having striped underparts. Sexes alike. Juvenile has pale edges and rufous tips of upperpart feathers, grayish chin and throat, more diffuse stripes below.

Southern Congo, southern Democratic Republic of the Congo and northeastern Angola (northern Lunda Norte). Range recently extended north to western central Democratic Republic of the Congo (Salonga National Park) and south to western Angola (Cassongue area in Cuanza Sul) (1 Mills, M.S.L. and Cohen, C. (2007). Brazza’s Martin Phedina brazzae: new information on range and vocalisations. Ostrich 78(1): 51–54. Close ).

No information; recorded east of 20° east only when breeding.

Diet includes termites (Isoptera). Forages in flocks over rivers, sometimes with the Lesser Striped Swallow (Cecropis abyssinica); flight slow and heavy.

End of dry season, July–October. Small, loose groups. Nest in burrow c. 50 cm long in riverbank or ditch, nest-chamber lined with dry grass and feathers. One clutch of three eggs recorded; incubation and fledging periods not documented. Late nests may be subject to flooding.