Red-throated Rock Martin
Ptyonoprogne rufigula
Red-throated Rock Martin (Ptyonoprogne rufigula) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Red-throated Rock Martin (Ptyonoprogne rufigula) is a member of the Hirundinidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 21.1 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 Ptyonoprogne
- Species rufigula
Where it lives
Sierra Leone to Eritrea and Ethiopia south to Zimbabwe and northern Mozambique
Quick facts
- Weight
- 21.1 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Hirundinidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Red-throated 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 Red-throated Rock Martin is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Red-throated Rock Martin (Ptyonoprogne rufigula) is a species of bird in the Hirundinidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Sierra Leone to Eritrea and Ethiopia s to Zimbabwe and n Mozambique.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 21.1 g, with a wing length of about 11.5 cm and a tail of around 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.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 5.4 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red-throated Rock Martin?
The Red-throated Rock Martin is a small bird that weighs around 21.1 g.
Where does the Red-throated Rock Martin live?
The Red-throated Rock Martin is found across Africa with a range covering AF Sierra Leone to Eritrea and Ethiopia s to Zimbabwe and n Mozambique, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Red-throated Rock Martin belong to?
The Red-throated Rock Martin (Ptyonoprogne rufigula) belongs to the Hirundinidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Red-throated Rock Martin eat?
The Red-throated Rock Martin is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Red-throated Rock Martin migrate?
The Red-throated Rock Martin is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Red-throated 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.
How large is the Red-throated Rock Martin's range?
The Red-throated Rock Martin has a mapped global range of about 5.4 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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