Phedina

Phedina is a small genus of passerine birds in the swallow family. It has two members, the Mascarene Martin, Phedina borbonica, which has two subspecies in Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands respectively, and Brazza's Martin, P. brazzae, which breeds in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Republic of the Congo, and northern Angola. The nearest relative of the Phedina martins is the Banded Martin, Riparia cincta, which resembles Brazza's Martin in nesting habits and vocalisations. Both Phedina martins have grey-brown upperparts and paler, heavily streaked underparts. Adult Mascarene Martins are 15 cm (6 in) in length, and Brazza's Martin is smaller at 12 cm (4.25 in) long. Both species have brown wings, dark brown eyes and a black bill and legs. Juvenile birds have more diffuse breast streaking and pale edges to the feathers of the back and wings than the adults. Both species can be distinguished from most other swallows in their breeding or wintering ranges by the streaking on the underparts and lack of a deeply forked tail. The Mascarene Martin has a warbled siri-liri siri-liri song given in flight, but Brazza's Martin has quite different vocalisations, its song consisting of a series of short notes followed by a complex buzz and sometimes some final clicks.