Black Saw-wing

Overview

The black saw-wing, also known as the blue saw-wing or black rough-winged swallow, is a small passerine bird in the swallow family. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Plumage is blue-glossed black, with four northeastern races displaying conspicuous white underwing coverts.
• Small size at 13–15 cm with a forked tail; females have shorter outer tail feathers and less obvious wing serrations.
• Juveniles are brown with little gloss and short tails.
• Quiet species with a soft chrrp alarm call, and contact calls described as chirr chirr cheeeu for P. p. holomelaena and tseeu tseu tsss-ip for orientalis.

Habitat

Breeds in open wooded habitats with a preference for wetter areas, though some races occur in mountain grassland. Found across Africa from eastern Nigeria and Ethiopia south to Angola, northern Zimbabwe, and northern Mozambique, with the subspecies P. p. holomelaena extending from southern Mozambique to the Cape in South Africa.

Diet

Hunts for flying insects in woodland clearings and edges, above forest, or over water. Usually seen in pairs or small groups.

Did you know?

The nest is constructed from grass or moss in a 30–60 cm long burrow, usually an old burrow of another species like a kingfisher, which is then excavated by the breeding pair.