Brown-chested Martin vs Cuban Martin

Brown-chested Martin

Progne tapera

Small32 gGrassland

The brown-chested martin is 16 to 18 cm (6.3 to 7.1 in) long and weighs 30 to 40 g (1.1 to 1.4 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a mostly sandy brown head with a white chin and throat. Their upperparts are sandy brown. Their tail is slightly forked; it and their wings are a darker brown than the upperparts. Their underparts are mostly white with an indistinct brown band across the breast. Subspecies P. t. fusca is larger and overall darker than the nominate with a more defined breast band and dusky markings on the lower breast and belly. Voice: The brown-chested martin's song is "harsh and guttural with series of gurgling sounds". It has been described in more detail as "a series of liquid, rolling, descending trills, for example trr-tee-tuk-TEEERRR...trr-tee-tuk-TEEERRR...". Its calls are "a dry, buzzy djzeut and a more musical dureet".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Frank Thomas Sautter · CC0

Cuban Martin

Progne cryptoleuca

Small46 gShrubland

Adult Cuban martins are 18.5 cm in length, with a forked tail and relatively broad wings, and weigh 40 g. Adult males are a glossy blue-black with contrasting white lower underparts. Females and juveniles are duller than the male, with grey-brown breast and flanks and white lower underparts. Adult male Cuban martins can be distinguished from adult male Caribbean martins by their dark bellies: Caribbean martins have a prominent white patch on theirs. Adult females and immatures aren't as easily distinguished.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: (c) Robin White, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Robin White · cc-by

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Brown-chested Martin and Cuban Martin.