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Cuban Martin

Progne cryptoleuca

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernInvertebratesShrublandCavity nestSmall · 46 g
Cuban Martin (Progne cryptoleuca), photo 1
Photo: (c) Robin White, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Robin White · cc-by
Cuban Martin (Progne cryptoleuca), photo 2
Photo: Tom Field · CC BY 4.0
Cuban Martin (Progne cryptoleuca), photo 3
Photo: Tom Field · CC BY 4.0
Cuban Martin (Progne cryptoleuca), photo 4
Photo: Robin White · CC BY 4.0
Cuban Martin (Progne cryptoleuca), photo 5
Photo: Robin White · CC BY 4.0
Cuban Martin (Progne cryptoleuca), photo 6
Photo: Tom Field · CC BY 4.0
Cuban Martin (Progne cryptoleuca), photo 7
Photo: Tom Field · CC BY 4.0
Cuban Martin (Progne cryptoleuca), photo 8
Photo: Tom Field · CC BY 4.0
Cuban Martin (Progne cryptoleuca), photo 9
Photo: Robin White · CC BY 4.0
Cuban Martin (Progne cryptoleuca), photo 10
Photo: Robin White · CC BY 4.0

ID tip

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.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Cuban Martin

One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 7 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is March, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Cuban Martin

Regular rangeRare visitor

The map shades 6 countries with regular records, and 1 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

Cuba Puerto Rico Guadeloupe Cayman Islands Curaçao Barbados

Recorded as a rare visitor in Dominican Republic.

About the Cuban Martin

The Cuban martin is a large swallow endemic to Cuba.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Galapagos Martin (Progne modesta) Galapagos MartinProgne modestaThe Galapagos martin is about 15 cm (5.9 in) long. Peruvian Martin (Progne murphyi) Peruvian MartinProgne murphyiThe Peruvian martin is 16.5 to 17 cm (6.5 to 6.7 in) long and weighs 30 to 37 g (1.1 to 1.3 oz). Sinaloa Martin (Progne sinaloae) Sinaloa MartinProgne sinaloaeThe Sinaloa martin is 17 to 18.5 cm (6.7 to 7.3 in) long; three individuals weighed between 42 and 43.7 g (1.5 and 1.5 oz).

Side by side: Brown-chested Martin vs Cuban Martin · Cuban Martin vs Southern Martin · Caribbean Martin vs Cuban Martin

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