Photo: Martin P Goodey / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black Saw-wing
Psalidoprocne pristoptera
Black Saw-wing (Psalidoprocne pristoptera) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black Saw-wing (Psalidoprocne pristoptera) is a member of the Hirundinidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 10.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Hirundinidae Swallows, Martins
- Genus Psalidoprocne
- Species pristoptera
Quick facts
- Weight
- 10.3 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Hirundinidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black Saw-wing is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Black Saw-wing is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Black Saw-wing (Psalidoprocne pristoptera) is a member of the Hirundinidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 10.3 g, with a wing length of about 10.6 cm and a tail of around 8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 8.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black Saw-wing?
The Black Saw-wing is a very small bird that weighs around 10.3 g.
Where does the Black Saw-wing live?
The Black Saw-wing is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black Saw-wing belong to?
The Black Saw-wing (Psalidoprocne pristoptera) belongs to the Hirundinidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black Saw-wing eat?
The Black Saw-wing is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Black Saw-wing migrate?
The Black Saw-wing is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Black Saw-wing endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black Saw-wing make?
1 real field recording of the Black Saw-wing — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black Saw-wing's range?
The Black Saw-wing has a mapped global range of about 8.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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