Pale crag martin flying in the Eastern Desert, Southern Egypt.
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Aves
Order:
Passeriformes
Family:
Hirundinidae
Genus:
Ptyonoprogne
Species:
P. obsoleta
Binomial name
Ptyonoprogne obsoleta
(Cabanis, 1851)
Approximate range
The pale crag martin (Ptyonoprogne obsoleta) is a small passerine bird in the swallow family that is resident in Northern Africa and in Southwestern Asia, east to Pakistan. It breeds mainly in the mountains, but also at lower altitudes, especially in rocky areas and around towns. Unlike most swallows, it is often found far from water. It is 12–13 cm (4+1⁄2–5 in) long, with mainly brown plumage, paler-toned on the upper breast and underwing coverts, and with white "windows" on the spread tail in flight. The sexes are similar in appearance, but juveniles have pale fringes to the upperparts and flight feathers. It was formerly considered to be the northern subspecies of the rock martin of southern Africa, although it is smaller, paler, and whiter-throated than that species. The pale crag martin hunts along cliff faces for flying insects using a slow flight with much gliding. Its call is a soft twitter.
This martin builds a deep bowl nest on a sheltered horizontal surface, or a neat quarter-sphere against a vertical rock face or wall. The nest is constructed with mud pellets and lined with grass or feathers, and may be built on natural sites under cliff overhangs or on man-made structures such as buildings and bridges. It is often reused for subsequent broods or in later years. This species is often a solitary breeder, but small groups may breed close together in suitable locations. The two or three eggs of a typical clutch are white with brown and grey blotches, and are incubated by both adults for 16–19 days prior to hatching. Both parents then feed the chicks. Fledging takes another 22–24 days, although the young birds will return to the nest to roost for a few days after their first flight.
The pale crag martin is caught in flight by several fast, agile falcon species, such as hobbies, and it sometimes carries parasites, but it faces no major threats. Because of its range of nearly 20 million square kilometres (7,700,000 sq mi) and a large and apparently increasing population, it is not seen as vulnerable and is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
^BirdLife International (2017). "Ptyonoprogne obsoleta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22712230A111067634. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22712230A111067634.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
The palecragmartin (Ptyonoprogne obsoleta) is a small passerine bird in the swallow family that is resident in Northern Africa and in Southwestern Asia...
crag martin (P. rupestris), the palecragmartin (P. obsoleta), the rock martin (P. fuligula) and the dusky cragmartin (P. concolor). They are closely...
The Eurasian cragmartin or just cragmartin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris) is a small passerine bird in the swallow family. It is about 14 cm (5.5 in) long...
forms, and are now usually split as a separate species, the palecragmartin. The rock martin hunts along cliff faces for flying insects using a slow flight...
dry or mountainous areas are often matte brown above (e.g. sand martin and cragmartin). The sexes show limited or no sexual dimorphism, with longer outer...
The dusky cragmartin (Ptyonoprogne concolor) is a small passerine bird in the swallow family. It is about 13 cm (5 in) long with a broad body and wings...
The purple martin (Progne subis) is a passerine bird in the swallow family Hirundinidae. It is the largest swallow in North America. Despite its name,...
"riverbank". The palemartin of northern India and southeastern China is now usually split as a separate species Riparia diluta. It has paler grey-brown upperparts...
Hyalomma marginatum is a hard-bodied tick found on birds including the palecragmartin. This tick has been implicated in the transmission of Bahig virus,...
house martin (Delichon urbicum), sometimes called the common house martin, northern house martin or, particularly in Europe, just house martin, is a migratory...
The palemartin or pale sand martin (Riparia diluta) is a small passerine bird in the swallow family. It is found in open habitats such as farmland, grassland...
The Caribbean martin or white-bellied martin (Progne dominicensis) is a large swallow. It has at various times been considered alternatively as a race...
soft-bodied tick that is found primarily on chickens and birds including the palecragmartin. Kraiss, A; Gothe, R (1982). "The life cycle of Argas (Argas) africolumbae...
similar plumage to the cliff swallow; however, the former has a dark cap and pale throat, and also a much smaller distribution in North America, most likely...
and Asian house martins, migrate south in winter, while the Nepal house martin is resident in the Himalayas year-round. The house martins nest in colonies...
and breast band is less glossy, and the underparts paler. The juvenile is browner and has a paler rufous face and whiter underparts. It also lacks the...
Ptilonyssus echinatus is a nasal mite found in birds including the palecragmartin. Simon, P (1965). "Synthèse de l'Avifaune du massif montagneux du Tibesti...
underparts. The bill is black, the eyes dark brown, and the legs and feet pale brown. The female is generally duller than the male, and the first-year female...
Hirundo is a group of passerines in the family Hirundinidae (swallows and martins). The genus name is Latin for a swallow. These are the typical swallows...
Retrieved 12 November 2021. Turner, Angela K; Rose, Chris (1989). Swallows & Martins: An Identification Guide and Handbook. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-395-51174-7...
while the throat and upper breast are pale rufous, shading to dark rufous on the remainder of the underparts. Very pale underwing coverts contrast with the...
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