Bird Guide

Eurasian Crag Martin vs Pale Crag 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

Sonogram of the Eurasian Crag Martin
Recorded by Pascal Christe · Song · St Ursanne, Gare (near Clos du Doubs), Porrentruy, Jura, Switzerland · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Quentin Groom · CC0
Pale Crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne obsoleta)

Pale Crag Martin

Ptyonoprogne obsoleta

Tiny10 gRocky

The pale crag martin of the nominate subspecies P. o. obsoleta is 12–13 centimetres (4+1⁄2–5 inches) long with light brown upperparts, becoming paler on the lower back, 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 pale grey throat, upper breast and underwing coverts, and the rest of the underparts are a dirty white. The eyes are brown, the small bill is mainly black, and the legs are brownish-pink. The wing length averages 13 cm (5 in) and the tail averages 4.8 cm (1+7⁄8 in).

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Jan Ebr & Ivana Ebrová · CC BY 4.0

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 Pale Crag Martin.