Fauna
Bird

White-headed Sawwing

Psalidoprocne albiceps

Also known as White-headed Saw-wing, White-headed Rough-winged Swallow

White-headed sawwings sweep gracefully over forest edges, river corridors, and grassy clearings, snatching tiny airborne insects in agile, buoyant flight. Adult males display a striking snow-white cap and throat contrasting sharply with their glossy greenish-black plumage, while females wear a more subdued brownish-grey hood. They excavate narrow nesting burrows deep into vertical earthen banks and road cuttings, often re-using these subterranean tunnels across successive breeding seasons.

Aerial InsectivoreAfrican NativeDimorphic
White-headed Sawwing reference
William Stephens / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyFlying Termites, Alate Ants, Midges
Predators
  • African Hobby
  • Black Sparrowhawk
  • Boomslang
ThreatsErosion of nesting banks, clearing of forest borders, and insect decline from pesticides
HabitatsForest clearings, moist savanna, riverine woodlands, and montane edges
Life span4–7 years
Classification
  1. OrderPasseriformes
  2. FamilyHirundinidae
  3. GenusPsalidoprocne
  4. SpeciesPsalidoprocne albiceps
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Viewing Time: Scan forest glades and rivers early in the morning when insect swarms congregate.
  • Nesting Etiquette: Keep a respectful distance from exposed clay banks or road cuts during nesting season.
Related species
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