Black saw-wing facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black saw-wing |
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Psalidoprocne
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| Species: |
pristoptera
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The black saw-wing is a cool little bird! It's also known as the blue saw-wing or black rough-winged swallow. This small bird belongs to the swallow family. Swallows are known for their amazing flying skills!
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Where Black Saw-wings Live
Black saw-wings like to live in open forests. They often prefer places that are a bit wet. You can also find some types in mountain grasslands. These birds live all over Africa. Their home stretches from eastern Nigeria and Ethiopia down to Angola. They also live in northern Zimbabwe and northern Mozambique.
Travel Habits of Saw-wings
Most black saw-wings stay in one place. They might move a short distance depending on the season. Some types, like the P. p. holomelaena from southern Africa, do migrate. They fly north for the southern winter. Another type from the mountains of northern Ethiopia also moves south after breeding.
What Black Saw-wings Look Like
The black saw-wing is a small bird, about 13 to 15 centimeters long. That's about the length of your hand! It has a tail that looks like a fork. Its feathers are black and have a shiny, blue look.
Differences Between Birds
Male and female black saw-wings look quite similar. However, females have shorter outer tail feathers. Their wing edges are also less jagged. Young birds are brown and not as shiny. They also have short tails.
Many Types of Saw-wings
There are many different kinds, or subspecies, of this swallow. Some experts even think some of these might be separate species. For example, some types have white feathers under their wings. These are sometimes called the eastern rough-winged swallow. Other types have dark feathers under their wings.
How Black Saw-wings Behave
You usually see black saw-wings in pairs or small groups. They fly around looking for flying insects. They hunt in clearings and at the edges of woodlands. You might also spot them above forests or over water. Their flight looks a bit weak and fluttery.
Sounds They Make
This bird is usually quiet. But it does make a soft chrrp sound if it senses danger. They also have a contact call to talk to each other. One type makes a chirr chirr cheeeu sound. Another type calls tseeu tseu tsss-ip.
Building a Nest and Raising Young
Black saw-wings build their nests from grass, moss, or similar soft stuff. They build them inside a long tunnel. This tunnel is usually 30 to 60 centimeters deep. They dig these tunnels into vertical sand or clay banks. Sometimes, they use an old tunnel made by another bird, like a kingfisher. But they can also dig their own!
The female bird lays two, sometimes three, white eggs. Only one parent, probably the female, sits on the eggs. This is called incubating. It takes about 14 to 19 days for the eggs to hatch. After hatching, the young birds stay in the nest for another 24 to 27 days. Then they are ready to fly, which is called fledging.
