Photo: Wouter Van Landuyt / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Mascarene Martin
Phedina borbonica
Mascarene Martin (Phedina borbonica) — 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 Mascarene Martin (Phedina borbonica) is a member of the Hirundinidae family found in Africa and Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 22.2 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 Phedina
- Species borbonica
Quick facts
- Weight
- 22.2 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Hirundinidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Mascarene Martin is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Mascarene Martin is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Mascarene Martin (Phedina borbonica) is a member of the Hirundinidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa and Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers AF, IO Madagascar and w, c Mascarenes.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 22.2 g, with a wing length of about 11.3 cm and a tail of around 5.9 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 595,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Mascarene Martin?
The Mascarene Martin is a small bird that weighs around 22.2 g.
Where does the Mascarene Martin live?
The Mascarene Martin is found across Africa and Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering AF, IO Madagascar and w, c Mascarenes, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Mascarene Martin belong to?
The Mascarene Martin (Phedina borbonica) belongs to the Hirundinidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Mascarene Martin eat?
The Mascarene Martin is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Mascarene Martin migrate?
The Mascarene Martin is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Mascarene 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 Mascarene Martin make?
1 real field recording of the Mascarene 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 Mascarene Martin's range?
The Mascarene Martin has a mapped global range of about 595,000 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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Guides for this bird
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