Psalidoprocne nitens
The Square-tailed Saw-wing (Psalidoprocne nitens) is a small, sleek swallow, typically measuring 13-14 cm (5.1-5.5 inches) in length. Its plumage is a uniformly glossy blue-black, often appearing duller in poor light but revealing a subtle iridescent sheen in sunshine. Unlike most swallows with deeply forked tails, its tail appears distinctly square-cut when folded, though a slight fork is visible in flight. It possesses the characteristic slim, aerodynamic build of its family, with long, poi...
Tropical lowland rainforests, forest edges, and clearings, often found near water bodies like rivers and streams, typically below 1500 meters elevation.
Exclusively insectivorous, feeding on small flying insects such as beetles, flies, ants, and termites, caught on the wing.
Square-tailed Saw-wings are diurnal and spend much of their day hawking for insects. They roost communally or individually in dense foliage or within their nesting tunnels during non-breeding periods. They are agile aerial insectivores, often foraging low over the water or along forest clearings ...
The Square-tailed Saw-wing boasts a wide distribution across West and Central Africa. Its range extends from Sierra Leone and Guinea eastward through Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria. Further east, it inhabits Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Central African Republic, and the Rep...
Least Concern
- The "square-tailed" in its name refers to its unique tail shape, which appears blunt-ended when folded, unlike most swallows with deeply forked tails. - It is one of the few swallow species that primarily inhabits dense tropical rainforests, shunning the open habitats preferred by many of its r...