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GrasslandCavity nestSmall · 51 g
ID tip
The southern martin is 17 to 20 cm (6.7 to 7.9 in) long. The sexes are dimorphic though both have a deeply forked tail. Adult males are almost entirely glossy steel-blue with blacker wings and tail. Females have duller steel-blue upperparts than males. Their underparts are mostly dusky brown with paler feather edges that give a scaly appearance; their undertail coverts are white with dusky streaks. Juveniles resemble adult females. Voice: The southern martin's song is "a short gurgle"; it also makes "a harsh contact call and an alarm call".
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Southern Martin
One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 6 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is October, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Southern Martin
The map shades 11 countries with regular records, and 2 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 Chile, Falkland Islands.
About the Southern Martin
The southern martin is a species of bird in the family Hirundinidae, the swallows and martins. One source states that it is known in every mainland South American country except Colombia, Guyana, and Venezuela, and there are undocumented sight records in those three countries. It has occurred as a vagrant in the Malvinas/Falkland Islands and the U.S. state of Florida
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Caribbean MartinProgne dominicensisAdult Caribbean martins are 18.5 cm in length, with a forked tail and relatively broad wings, and weigh 40 g.
Cuban MartinProgne cryptoleucaAdult Cuban martins are 18.5 cm in length, with a forked tail and relatively broad wings, and weigh 40 g.
Galapagos MartinProgne modestaThe Galapagos martin is about 15 cm (5.9 in) long.
Side by side: Purple Martin vs Southern Martin · Grey-breasted Martin vs Southern Martin · Brown-chested Martin vs Southern Martin · Caribbean Martin vs Southern Martin · Cuban Martin vs Southern Martin
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