Bird Guide

Eurasian Crag Martin vs Large Rock Martin

Eurasian Crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris)

Eurasian Crag Martin

Ptyonoprogne rupestris

Small20 gRocky

The Eurasian crag martin is 13–15 cm (5.1–5.9 in) long, with a 32–34.5 cm (12.6–13.6 in) wingspan, and weighs an average 23 g (0.81 oz). It has ash-brown upperparts and paler underparts, and has a broader body, wings and tail than any other European swallow. The tail is short and square, with white patches near the tips of all but the central and outermost pairs of feathers. The underwing and undertail coverts are blackish, the eyes are brown, the small bill is mainly black, and the legs are brownish-pink.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Pascal Christe · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Quentin Groom · CC0
Large Rock Martin (Ptyonoprogne fuligula)

Large Rock Martin

Ptyonoprogne fuligula

Small21 gRocky

The large rock martin of the nominate subspecies P. f. fuligula is 12–15 cm (4.7–5.9 in) long, with earth-brown upperparts and a short square tail that has small white patches near the tips of all but the central and outermost pairs of feathers. It has a cinnamon chin, throat, upper breast and underwing coverts, with the rest of the underparts being a similar brown to the upperparts. The eyes are brown, the small bill is mainly black, and the legs are brownish-pink. The sexes are similar in appearance, but juveniles have pale edges to the upperparts and flight feathers.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: bdhimes · CC0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Eurasian Crag Martin and Large Rock Martin.