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UrbanDomed nestTiny · 15 g
What the Western House Martin sounds like
ID tip
The adult western house martin is 13 cm (5 in) long, with a wingspan of 26–29 cm (10–11+1⁄2 in) and a weight averaging 18.3 g (21⁄32 oz). It is steel-blue above with a white rump, and white underparts, including the underwings; even its short legs have white downy feathering. It has brown eyes and a small black bill, and its toes and exposed parts of the legs are pink. The sexes are similar, but the juvenile bird is sooty black, and some of its wing coverts and quills have white tips and edgings. D. u.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Western House Martin
One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 6 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is May, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Western House Martin
The map shades 137 countries with regular records, and 8 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 States, Sri Lanka, Burundi, Niger, Gabon, Somalia, Maldives, Vietnam.
About the Western House Martin
The western house martin, sometimes called the common house martin, northern house martin or, particularly in Europe, just house martin, is a migratory passerine bird of the swallow family which breeds in Europe, north Africa and west-central Asia; and winters in sub-Saharan Africa and southwestern Asia. It feeds on insects which are caught in flight, and it migrates to climates where flying insects are plentiful. It has a blue head and upperparts, white rump and pure white underparts, and is found in both open country and near human habitation. It is similar in appearance to the two other martin species of the genus Delichon, which are both endemic to eastern and southern Asia.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Asian House MartinDelichon dasypusThe adult Asian house martin of the nominate subspecies is 12 cm (4.7 in) long, dark steel blue above with a contrasting white rump, grey-washed white underparts, and a slightly forked tail.
Nepal House MartinDelichon nipalenseThe adult Nepal house martin is 13 cm (5.1 in) long, mainly blue-black above and white below.
Siberian House MartinDelichon lagopodumThe Siberian house martin or eastern house martin is a passerine bird in the swallow family Hirundinidae.
Side by side: Asian House Martin vs Western House Martin · Nepal House Martin vs Western House Martin
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