SOUTHERN MARTIN Progne elegans
Depsite several reliable reports of the species in Paraguay, the photos below represent the first documentation of this large dark martin in Paraguay. It is considered a vagrant in Paraguay though small numbers are recorded every year and it may be more regular than previously thought. Note that males of this species are very easily confused with the Purple Martin, another migrant that reaches Paraguay that will be very familiar to North American birders. They might best be distinguished based on their moult schedule, the Purple Martin moulting in the austral spring/summer and Southern in the austral autumn/winter.
Click on the images to enlarge them.
FIGURE 1 - (FPAVE593PH) Adult male (lowest bird) with Grey-breasted Martins, Pilar, Departamento Ñeembucú (Silvia Centrón September 2008).
FIGURE 2 - (FPAVE594PH) Adult female ventral, Pilar, Departamento Ñeembucú (Silvia Centrón September 2008).
FIGURE 3 - (FPAVE595PH) Adult female ventral, Laguna Bombacha, Departamento Presidente Hayes (Paul Smith October 2008).
FIGURE 4 - (FPAVE596PH) Same individual as (FPAVE595PH) lateral view (Paul Smith October 2008).
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Photographs on this page were taken by Paul Smith and Silvia Centrón and are used with their permission.