Southern Martin Progne elegans Scientific name definitions

The Southern Martin is a large, dark swallow that breeds in southern South America.  An austral migrant, it spends its winters in Amazonia and often forms large flocks, sometimes accompanied by Gray-breasted Martins (P. chalybea).  Males of the species are bluish-purple and iridescent, but often appear blackish, while females are dark bluish-purple above and barred gray below.  Structurally, they are stocky with long bodies and a deeply notched tail.  Southern Martins give a variety of pleasant chirping calls and trills and often frequent urban areas, farmland, and watercourses.

17 cm. Male is dark glossy steel-blue, wings and tail blacker, tail deeply forked. Differs from extremely similar P. subis in slightly longer and more deeply forked tail (probably indistinguishable in the field). Female has duller upperparts and dusky brown underparts, feathers extensively pale-mar­gined, appearing scaly, undertail-coverts white with dusky shafts. Juvenile resembles adult female.

S Bolivia (S from C Cochabamba and W Santa Cruz) and much of Argentina (generally S to Santa Cruz); migrates N to W Amazonia (possibly farther N to Suriname (1 Ottema, O. and Chin-Joe, F. (2012). The roost of Progne martins at Paranam, Surinam, including documentation of two species new for the country. Cotinga 34: 15–18. Close ) ).

Song is a short gurgle; also makes a harsh contact call and an alarm call.