Bird Guide

Banded Martin vs Streak-throated Swallow

Banded Martin (Neophedina cincta)

Banded Martin

Neophedina cincta

Small23 gGrassland

The 15–17 cm (5.9–6.7 in) long banded martin has earth-brown upper parts, except for a white stripe above the eye. Its underparts are white, as are the underwing coverts, and it has a dark brown breast band, and sometimes a thin dark line across the vent. Sexes are similar, but the young have a paler breast band and golden tips to the upper part feathers. It is easily distinguished from the smaller sand martin by its square tail and white on the underwings, and from the brown-throated sand martin by its white throat.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa · CC BY 2.0
Streak-throated Swallow (Petrochelidon fluvicola)

Streak-throated Swallow

Petrochelidon fluvicola

Tiny10 gShrubland

The streak-throated swallow is a sparrow-sized bird about 11 cm (4.3 in) in length. It has a dull chestnut forehead and crown. The underparts are whitish, the upper feathers are steel-blue. The rump is pale brown and the tail has a square end. The brown streaks on the throat and chest are distinctive and used to differentiate from other similar birds. On cold mornings, large flocks are seen closely-packed on electric wires to catch the early sun. Its voice is a twittering chirp while perched. In flight, it utters a sharp trr-trr.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: prodewald · CC0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Banded Martin and Streak-throated Swallow.