Congo saw-wing

Congo saw-wing
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Hirundinidae
Genus:	Psalidoprocne
Species:	P. centralis
Binomial name
	Psalidoprocne centralis; Neumann, 1904
Synonyms
	Psalidoprocne nitens centralis

The Congo saw-wing (Psalidoprocne centralis) is a species of bird in the family Hirundinidae. It is endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was described by Oscar Rudolph Neumann in 1904. It is monotypic.

Taxonomy and systematics

This species was formerly considered conspecific with the square-tailed saw-wing. It was separated from the square-tailed saw-wing by a combination of plumage and genetics.

Description

This species is a dark, glossy green, with a blackish-brown throat. The juvenile is duller brown, with a duller green sheen.

Habits and habitat

This species is common in the northern and central Democratic Republic of the Congo and is found in lowland primary and secondary forest. Its diet includes beetles, flies, ants, and termites, and it forages in pairs or small flocks.

It sometimes twitters in flocks and gives a sip sound. It has been observed breeding in February, May and July-October with a clutch size of 2 eggs. One nest contained 4 eggs, which may have been the result of two birds laying their eggs in the same nest. The burrow is dug 0.3-2 m long and is lined with lichens and moss.

References

1 2 3 4 Turner, Angela; Kirwan, Guy M.; Keeney, Brooke K. (2026-10-27), Billerman, Shawn M.; Keeney, Brooke K.; Rodewald, Paul G.; Schulenberg, Thomas S. (eds.), "Congo Saw-wing (Psalidoprocne centralis)", Birds of the World, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, doi:10.2173/bow.sqtsaw3.01, retrieved 2026-11-01
1 2 Christidis, Les; Rheindt, Frank E.; Iliff, Marshall J.; Lepage, Denis; J., Praveen; Donald, Paul; Rasmussen, Pamela C.; Schulenberg, Tom; Areta, Juan Ignacio (2026-10-21). AviList v2026 (Report). Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/avilist.v2026.
1 2 Fishpool, Lincoln D. C. (2023-09-07). "Square-tailed Saw-wing Psalidoprocne nitens in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: identity and taxonomic status". Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club. 143 (3): 295–308. doi:10.25226/bboc.v143i3.2023.a5. ISSN 0007-1595.

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[TurnerKirwanKeeney2026-1-1] 1 2 3 4 Turner, Angela; Kirwan, Guy M.; Keeney, Brooke K. (2026-10-27), Billerman, Shawn M.; Keeney, Brooke K.; Rodewald, Paul G.; Schulenberg, Thomas S. (eds.), "Congo Saw-wing (Psalidoprocne centralis)", Birds of the World, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, doi:10.2173/bow.sqtsaw3.01, retrieved 2026-11-01

[ChristidisRheindtIliffLepage2026-1-2] 1 2 Christidis, Les; Rheindt, Frank E.; Iliff, Marshall J.; Lepage, Denis; J., Praveen; Donald, Paul; Rasmussen, Pamela C.; Schulenberg, Tom; Areta, Juan Ignacio (2026-10-21). AviList v2026 (Report). Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/avilist.v2026.

[Fishpool2023-1-3] 1 2 Fishpool, Lincoln D. C. (2023-09-07). "Square-tailed Saw-wing Psalidoprocne nitens in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: identity and taxonomic status". Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club. 143 (3): 295–308. doi:10.25226/bboc.v143i3.2023.a5. ISSN 0007-1595.