Rock Martin
Ptyonoprogne fuligula
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyHirundinidae (Swallows and Martins)
- GenusPtyonoprogne (Crag-Martins)
- SpeciesPtyonoprogne fuligula (Rock Martin)
The large rock martin (Ptyonoprogne fuligula), also known as the southern crag-martin, is a small passerine bird in the swallow family that is resident in southern Africa. It was formerly considered to be conspecific with the red-throated rock martin. It breeds mainly in the mountains, but also at lower altitudes, especially in rocky areas and around towns, and, unlike most swallows, it is often found far from water. It is 12–15 cm (4.7–5.9 in) long, with mainly brown plumage, paler-toned on the upper breast and underwing coverts, and with white "windows" on the spread tail in flight. The sexes are similar in appearance, but juveniles have pale fringes to the upperparts and flight feathers. The former northern subspecies are smaller, paler, and whiter-throated than southern African forms, and are now usually split as a separate species, the pale crag martin. Wikipedia →
40–50% of wildlife watchers report a Rock Martin sighting in Waterberg Plateau Park, based on 53 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Waterberg Plateau Park
Lesser Striped-Swallow
Cecropis abyssinica
Greater Striped-Swallow
Cecropis cucullata
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
Rufous-chested Swallow
Cecropis semirufa
South African Swallow
Petrochelidon spilodera
African Red-eyed Bulbul
Pycnonotus nigricans
Green-backed Camaroptera
Camaroptera brachyura
Pale-winged Starling
Onychognathus nabouroup
Fork-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus adsimilis
Red-shouldered Glossy-starling
Lamprotornis nitens
Pririt Batis
Batis pririt
Crimson-breasted Gonolek
Laniarius atrococcineus
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Rock Martin in Waterberg Plateau Park?
About 46% of wildlife watchers report a Rock Martin sighting in Waterberg Plateau Park, based on 53 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Rock Martin in Waterberg Plateau Park?
August has the highest sighting rate for Rock Martin in Waterberg Plateau Park in our monthly data.