Fairy Martin vs Tree Martin

Fairy Martin

Petrochelidon ariel

Tiny11 gWetland

The fairy martin is dumpy and square tailed. It averages 12 centimetres (4.7 in) long and weighs 11 grams (0.39 oz). The adult has an iridescent blue back, brown wings and tail, a rufous crown and nape, and a whitish rump. The underparts are dull white. The sexes are similar, but young birds are duller and browner, with a paler forehead and pale fringes to the back and wing feathers. This species can be distinguished from other Australian swallows by its pale rump. The most similar species, the tree martin, has a shallowly forked tail and blue-black head and nape.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Terra Occ · CC BY 4.0

Tree Martin

Petrochelidon nigricans

Small15 gShrubland

The tree martin averages 13 cm (5.1 in) in length and has a shallowly forked tail. The adult has an iridescent blue back and crown, brown wings and tail, a rufous forehead and a whitish rump. The underparts are white. The sexes are similar, but young birds are duller and browner, with a paler forehead and pale fringes to the back and wing feathers. The call of this vocal swallow is a tsweet and the song is a high-pitched twitter. This species can be distinguished from other Australian swallows by its tail shape and pale rump.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Astrid Osborne · CC0

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