Galapagos Martin
Progne modesta
The Galapagos Martin (Progne modesta) is a rare swallow found in 2 countries, weighing about 42 g. The Galapagos martin is an Endangered species of bird in the family Hirundinidae, the swallows and martins.







About the Galapagos Martin
The Galapagos martin is an Endangered species of bird in the family Hirundinidae, the swallows and martins. It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The Galapagos martin is about 15 cm (5.9 in) long. The sexes are dimorphic. Adult males have a glossy dark violaceous steel-blue body. Their wings and tail are black with a faint bluish or greenish sheen. Females have a mostly black head and upperparts with a sooty crown and rump and a strong violaceous steel-blue gloss on the back and scapulars. Their underparts are mostly dark sooty gray or grayish sooty with indistinct pale tips on the feathers. Both sexes have a brown iris, a black bill, and brownish black or dusky brown legs and feet. Voice: The Galapagos martin's most frequently heard vocalizations are "a short, warbling song, a twittering flight call cher-cher, and a high-pitched alarm call".
Where it lives
When to see it
The Galapagos Martin can be seen all year round, with peak activity in July. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Galapagos Martin?
- The Galapagos martin is about 15 cm (5.9 in) long. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Galapagos Martin?
- The Galapagos Martin is a small sized bird weighing about 42 g.
- Where can you see a Galapagos Martin?
- The Galapagos Martin occurs in 2 countries, including Ecuador and Colombia.
- What birds look similar to a Galapagos Martin?
- The Galapagos Martin is most easily confused with the Peruvian Martin, the Sinaloa Martin and the Cuban Martin.
- Is the Galapagos Martin endangered?
- The Galapagos Martin is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Galapagos Martin for real
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