Plain Martin Riparia paludicola Scientific name definitions

The Plain Martin (or African Sand Martin) is a very widely distributed small hirundine with a shallowly forked tail and predominantly brown plumage. Over sub-Saharan Africa, the species often breeds at higher elevations, frequently in close proximity to waterbodies, especially larger rivers, and typically in small (occasionally large) colonies, using burrows that the birds usually excavate themselves. Like most Riparia martins, they forage for small airborne insects over open country, including water, and often associate with other hirundines including Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia), which is a winter visitor to much of the present species’ range. It was formerly considered conspecific with the Gray-throated Martin (Riparia chinensis) of South and East Asia. Quite a number of subspecies are recognized across mainland Africa, from Morocco and Ethiopia in the north, to South Africa in the south, but the formerly conspecific Madagascar Martin (Riparia cowani) is now treated as a separate species. Further taxonomic interest is pricked, given the very recently announced discovery of an apparently undescribed species of Riparia, closely related to the Plain Martin, but differing in its the all-white underparts, grayer upperparts, and a a dark mask in front of the eyes; the two even nest syntopically, sometimes in the same colonies (1 Gedeon, K., and T. Töpfer (2021). Is there an undescribed martin (Hirundinidae: Riparia) in Ethiopia? Bulletin of the African Bird Club 28(1):27–36. Close , 2 Bradley, J. E., and V. J. Ikawa (2023). Kenyan records of an unnamed Riparia martin first discovered in the highlands of Ethiopia. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 143(4). Close ), much like Riparia riparia and Pale Martin (Riparia diluta) have recently been proven to do in Central Asia.