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ShrublandCavity nestSmall · 15 g
ID tip
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.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Tree Martin
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is October, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Tree Martin
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.
Recorded as a rare visitor in Solomon Islands.
About the Tree Martin
The tree martin is a member of the swallow family of passerine birds. It breeds in Australia, mostly south of latitude 20°S, and on Timor island. It is migratory, wintering through most of Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia east of the Wallace Line, and the Solomon Islands. It is a vagrant to New Zealand, where it has bred, and New Caledonia. This species is frequently placed in the genus Hirundo as Hirundo nigricans.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Cave SwallowPetrochelidon fulvaThe cave swallow measures 12 to 14 cm in length and weighs 19 g on average.
Fairy MartinPetrochelidon arielThe fairy martin is dumpy and square tailed.
South African Cliff SwallowPetrochelidon spiloderaThe South African cliff swallow, also known as the South African swallow, is a species of bird in the family Hirundinidae native southern Africa.
Side by side: American Cliff Swallow vs Tree Martin · Cave Swallow vs Tree Martin · Fairy Martin vs Tree Martin
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