Bird Guide

Caribbean Martin vs Southern Martin

Caribbean Martin (Progne dominicensis)

Caribbean Martin

Progne dominicensis

Small40 gUrban

Adult Caribbean 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.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Matt Felperin · CC BY 4.0
Southern Martin (Progne elegans)

Southern Martin

Progne elegans

Small51 gGrassland

The southern martin is 17 to 20 cm (6.7 to 7.9 in) long. The sexes are dimorphic though both have a deeply forked tail. Adult males are almost entirely glossy steel-blue with blacker wings and tail. Females have duller steel-blue upperparts than males. Their underparts are mostly dusky brown with paler feather edges that give a scaly appearance; their undertail coverts are white with dusky streaks. Juveniles resemble adult females. Voice: The southern martin's song is "a short gurgle"; it also makes "a harsh contact call and an alarm call".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Ezequiel Vera · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

Learn this pair in the BeakBrain App

Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Play today's Daily Bird

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Caribbean Martin and Southern Martin.