Pale crag martin

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Pale crag martin

The pale crag martin (Ptyonoprogne obsoleta) is a small swallow found from northern Africa across the Middle East to Pakistan. It mostly breeds in mountains and rocky areas, but it can also nest at lower elevations and near towns. It is about 12–13 cm long, with brown upperparts and a pale throat and underparts, and white patches on the tail seen in flight. Juveniles have pale edges on their feathers. It was once thought to be a northern form of the rock martin, but it is now usually treated as a separate species.

Habitat and range: This bird breeds on cliffs, gorges, and caves up to high elevations, but it also uses lower rocky areas and buildings. It can nest far from water and is found across northern Africa and into southwestern Asia, with some local movements. It often uses man-made structures such as bridges and walls.

How it flies: The pale crag martin hunts flying insects along cliff faces with a slow, gliding flight and quick, acrobatic wingbeats. Its call is a soft twitter.

Nesting and breeding: Nests are mud structures built on sheltered ledges or against vertical rock faces, or on buildings. They may be reused for later broods. A typical clutch has 2–3 white eggs with brown or gray blotches. Both parents incubate for about 16–19 days and feed the chicks, which fledge after about 22–24 days. Sometimes two broods occur in a season.

Diet: It mainly eats insects caught in flight, though it may occasionally feed on the ground. It often hunts near its nesting territory, sometimes gliding along rock faces to catch prey.

Conservation: The pale crag martin has a very large range and a large, apparently growing population. It is not considered threatened and is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. In some areas, especially in the Arabian Peninsula, tall buildings provide new nesting sites and may help populations expand. The species is still locally common in parts of Africa and the Middle East.