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Photo: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Large Rock Martin

Ptyonoprogne fuligula

Large Rock Martin (Ptyonoprogne fuligula) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.

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The Large Rock Martin (Ptyonoprogne fuligula) is a member of the Hirundinidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 21.1 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

  1. Class Aves
  2. Order Passeriformes
  3. Family Hirundinidae Swallows, Martins
  4. Genus Ptyonoprogne
  5. Species fuligula

Where it lives

Southwestern Angola and Namibia to southwestern Zimbabwe, southern Mozambique and South Africa

Quick facts

Weight
21.1 g
Family
Hirundinidae

How to identify

Similar birds

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Large Rock Martin is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Behaviour

A bird of rocky terrain, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.

Migration

The Large Rock Martin is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The Large Rock Martin (Ptyonoprogne fuligula) belongs to the Hirundinidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF sw Angola and Namibia to sw Zimbabwe, s Mozambique and South Africa.

It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 21.1 g, with a wing length of about 12.4 cm and a tail of around 5.4 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 2.7 million km².

Songs & calls

Large Rock Martin — Flight call

Recorded by Manuel Oudard Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Large Rock Martin?

The Large Rock Martin is a small bird that weighs around 21.1 g.

Where does the Large Rock Martin live?

The Large Rock Martin is found across Africa with a range covering AF sw Angola and Namibia to sw Zimbabwe, s Mozambique and South Africa, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.

What family does the Large Rock Martin belong to?

The Large Rock Martin (Ptyonoprogne fuligula) belongs to the Hirundinidae family, in the order Passeriformes.

What does the Large Rock Martin eat?

The Large Rock Martin is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Does the Large Rock Martin migrate?

The Large Rock Martin is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

Is the Large Rock 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.

What sound does the Large Rock Martin make?

1 real field recording of the Large Rock Martin — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Large Rock Martin's range?

The Large Rock Martin has a mapped global range of about 2.7 million km².

Conservation

Least Concern

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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