Photo: lera / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Congo Martin
Riparia congica
Congo Martin (Riparia congica) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Congo Martin (Riparia congica) is a member of the Hirundinidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 16.5 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 Riparia
- Species congica
Quick facts
- Weight
- 16.5 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Hirundinidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Congo Martin is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Congo Martin is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Congo Martin (Riparia congica) is a species of bird in the Hirundinidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Congo River.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 16.5 g, with a wing length of about 9.2 cm and a tail of around 4.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 128,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Congo Martin?
The Congo Martin is a small bird that weighs around 16.5 g.
Where does the Congo Martin live?
The Congo Martin is found across Africa with a range covering AF Congo River, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Congo Martin belong to?
The Congo Martin (Riparia congica) belongs to the Hirundinidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Congo Martin eat?
The Congo Martin is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Congo Martin migrate?
The Congo Martin is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Congo Martin endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Congo Martin's range?
The Congo Martin has a mapped global range of about 128,000 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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