Southern Martin

Overview

The southern martin (Progne elegans) is a species of bird in the family Hirundinidae. It is found across most of mainland South America, excluding a few northern countries, and has occasionally been recorded as a vagrant in Florida and the Malvinas/Falkland Islands.

Identification

• Adults range from 17 to 20 cm in length and possess a deeply forked tail.
• Males display a glossy steel-blue plumage with blacker wings and tail, while females feature duller upperparts.
• Both sexes have dusky brown underparts with paler feather edges, creating a scaly appearance, and white undertail coverts with dusky streaks.
• Juveniles resemble adult females.
• The song is described as a short gurgle, accompanied by harsh contact and alarm calls.

Habitat

The species inhabits a variety of semi-open to open landscapes, including grasslands, woodlands, scrublands, and areas of human habitation. It is fairly common around towns and cultivated areas within its core range, which encompasses parts of South America such as Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil. It is also recorded in Ecuador, Peru, and other regions, with upper elevation limits varying widely among sources.

Diet

The southern martin feeds on insects captured in mid-air, with a diet that includes moths, butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies, ants, and termites. It forages singly or in small flocks, flying low over the ground and at higher altitudes. Its flight is often slow and it frequently glides during foraging activities.

Did you know?

The southern martin's migratory behavior is ill-defined, with sources disagreeing on its precise range and seasonal movements. It has been recorded as a vagrant in the U.S. state of Florida and the Malvinas/Falkland Islands, which is surprising given its primarily South American distribution.