Eurasian Crag Martin

What the Eurasian Crag Martin sounds like

Recorded by Pascal Christe · Song · St Ursanne, Gare (near Clos du Doubs), Porrentruy, Jura, Switzerland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

Recorded by Pascal Christe · Call · Binn, Langthal (near Binn), Goms, Wallis, Switzerland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

ID tip

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Eurasian Crag Martin

One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is May, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Eurasian Crag Martin

The map shades 65 countries with regular records, and 10 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.

Recorded as a rare visitor in United Kingdom, Belgium, Norway, Netherlands, South Korea, Sudan, Syria, Finland, Czechia, Estonia.

About the Eurasian Crag Martin

The Eurasian crag martin or just crag martin is a small passerine bird in the swallow family. It is about 14 cm (5.5 in) long with ash-brown upperparts and paler underparts, and a short, square tail that has distinctive white patches on most of its feathers. It breeds in the mountains of southern Europe, northwestern Africa and across the Palearctic. It can be confused with the three other species in its genus, but is larger with brighter tail spots and different plumage tone. Many European birds are resident, but some northern populations and most Asian breeders are migratory, wintering in northern Africa, the Middle East or India.

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

Easily confused with

Large Rock MartinPtyonoprogne fuligulaThe 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. Dusky Crag MartinPtyonoprogne concolorThe dusky crag martin is 13 cm (5 in) long with a broad body, wings and tail. Pale Crag MartinPtyonoprogne obsoletaThe 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.

Side by side: Eurasian Crag Martin vs Large Rock Martin · Dusky Crag Martin vs Eurasian Crag Martin · Eurasian Crag Martin vs Pale Crag Martin