Plain Martin
Plain MartinPlain MartinPlain MartinPlain Martin

Plain Martin

Riparia paludicola

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Ranomafana National Park
65 Verified sightings at Ranomafana National Park From 2019 to 2026
3,977 Verified sightings across all 49 parks From 2019 to 2026
November Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Plain Martin

The brown-throated martin, brown-throated sand martin or plain martin (Riparia paludicola) is a small passerine bird in the swallow family, Hirundinidae, that is widely distributed across Africa. It was formerly regarded as conspecific with the grey-throated martin (Riparia chinensis) and the Madagascar martin (Riparia cowani).

The brown-throated martin was formally described in 1817 by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot. He placed it in the genus Hirundo and coined the binomial name Hirundo paludicola. The specific epithet paludicola is Latin meaning "marsh-dweller" (from palus, paludis meaning "swamp" and -cola meaning "dweller". Vieillot based his account on "L'hirondelle à front roux" from South Africa that had been described and illustrated in 1806 by François Levaillant. The brown-throated martin is now one of six martins placed in the genus Riparia that was introduced in 1817 by the German naturalist Johann Reinhold Forster. It was formerly considered to be conspecific with the grey-throated martin (Riparia chinensis) and the Madagascar martin (Riparia cowani).

Six subspecies are recognised. They differ in size and plumage tones of the upperparts... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Ranomafana National Park

Mascarene Martin
LC

Mascarene Martin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phedina borbonica

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Barn Swallow
LC

Barn Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hirundo rustica

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Madagascar Bulbul
LC

Madagascar Bulbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hypsipetes madagascariensis

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely
Souimanga Sunbird
LC

Souimanga Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinnyris sovimanga

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Madagascar White-eye
LC

Madagascar White-eye

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zosterops maderaspatanus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Tylas Vanga
NT Endemic

Tylas Vanga

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tylas eduardi

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Madagascar Paradise-Flycatcher
LC

Madagascar Paradise-Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Terpsiphone mutata

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Madagascar Magpie-Robin
LC Endemic

Madagascar Magpie-Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Copsychus albospecularis

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Malagasy Brush Warbler
LC

Malagasy Brush Warbler

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Nesillas typica

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Red-tailed Vanga
LC Endemic

Red-tailed Vanga

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Calicalicus madagascariensis

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Crested Drongo
LC

Crested Drongo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dicrurus forficatus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Common Newtonia
LC Endemic

Common Newtonia

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Newtonia brunneicauda

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~40%
2 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~40%
3 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~30%
4 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~20%
5 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
6 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
7 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~10%
8 Awash National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
~10%
9 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~10%
10 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
11 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
12 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
13 Ranomafana National Park 🇲🇬 Madagascar
~10%
14 Bale Mountains National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
~10%
15 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
16 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
17 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
18 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%
19 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
20 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
21 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
<5%
22 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
23 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
24 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%
25 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
<5%
26 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
27 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
28 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
<5%
29 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
30 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
31 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
32 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
<5%
33 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
34 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
35 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
36 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
37 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
38 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
39 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
40 Golden Gate Highlands National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
41 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
42 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
43 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
44 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
45 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
46 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
Insufficient data
47 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
Insufficient data
48 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
49 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Plain Martin in Ranomafana National Park?

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Plain Martin sighting in Ranomafana National Park, based on 65 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Plain Martin in Ranomafana National Park?

November has the highest sighting rate for Plain Martin in Ranomafana National Park in our monthly data.

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