403. PALE CRAG-MARTIN.
COTILE OBSOLETA.
Cotile obsoleta Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 50 (1850) ; Dresser, iii. p. 521, pl. 165 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Br. Mus. x. p. 111 ; Oates, F. Brit. Ind. Birds, ii. p. 275 ; Giglioi, Avif. Ital. p. 190.
Male ad. (Egypt). Differs from G. rupestris in being smaller and much paler, the upper parts pale greyish sandy brown, the under parts creamy white, almost pure white on the chin and upper throat ; flanks, lower abdomen, and under tail-coverts washed with dull rufous brown. Culmen 0.35, wing 4.5, tail 2.1, tarsus 0.45 inch. Sexes alike.
Hab. Palestine, Egypt, Nubia, S. Arabia, east to Sind, and is said to have occurred twice in Italy.
In habits it does not differ from C. rupestris, but it is frequently found in the desert and in N. Africa in the mountains to an elevation of from 11,000 to 12,000 feet. Its flight is swift though at times irregular. It breeds as early as March and places its cup-shaped nest in tombs, mosques, or other buildings in the desert, or in cracks in the rocks under overhanging precipices, or in caves, and the eggs are white, closely spotted with reddish brown.
403. Cotile obsoleta
BookTitle:
A Manual Of Palaearctic Birds
Reference:
Dresser, Henry Eeles. A Manual of Palaearctic Birds. Vol. 1. 1902.
Title in Book:
403. Cotile obsoleta
CatNo:
403
Year:
1902
Page No:
273
Common name:
Pale Crag Martin
M_ID:
22542
M_CN:
Pale Crag Martin
M_SN:
Ptyonoprogne obsoleta
Volume:
Vol. 1
Term name:
id:
10600
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