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Showing posts with label COMMON HOUSE MARTIN (Delichon urbicum). Show all posts
Showing posts with label COMMON HOUSE MARTIN (Delichon urbicum). Show all posts

Sunday, 6 August 2023

6-8-2023 LLUTXENT, VALENCIA - COMMON HOUSE MARTIN (Delichon urbicum)

The western house martin (Delichon urbicum), 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 across the Palearctic; and winters in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical 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. It has two accepted subspecies.

Both the scientific and colloquial name of the bird are related to its use of human-made structures. It builds a closed cup nest from mud pellets under eaves or similar locations on buildings usually in colonies.

It is hunted by the Eurasian hobby (Falco subbuteo), and like other birds is affected by internal parasites and external fleas and mites, although its large range and population mean that it is not threatened globally.

The western house martin breeds across temperate Eurosiberia east to central Mongolia and the Yenisei River, and in Morocco, Tunisia and northern Algeria, and migrates on a broad front to winter in sub-Saharan Africa.

The preferred habitat of the western house martin is open country with low vegetation, such as pasture, meadows and farmland, and preferably near water, although it is also found in mountains up to at least 2,200 m (7,200 ft) elevation. It is much more urban than the barn swallow, and will nest even in city centres if the air is clean enough. It is more likely to be found near trees than other Eurasian swallows, since they provide insect food and also roosting sites. This species does not normally use the reed-bed roosts favoured by migrating barn swallows.

It uses similar open habitats on the wintering grounds, but the western house martin is less conspicuous than wintering barn swallows, tending to fly higher and be more nomadic. In the tropical parts of its wintering range, like East Africa, it appears to be mainly found in the higher areas.


Monday, 6 April 2020

24-5-2017 ALBACASAR, VALENCIA - COMMON HOUSE MARTIN (Delichon urbicum)



The Common house martin (Delichon urbicum) is a migratory passerine bird which breeds in Europe, North Africa and across the Palearctic; and winters in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical Asia. It feeds on insects that are caught in flight, and it migrates to climates where flying insects are plentiful. Both the scientific and colloquial names of the bird are related to its use of human-made structures. It builds a closed cup nest from mud pellets under eaves or similar locations on buildings usually in colonies.

The Common house martin 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.





Saturday, 28 May 2016

28-5-2016 BENIARJO, VALENCIA - COMMON HOUSE MARTIN (Delichon urbicum)


The Common house martin (Delichon urbicum) is a migratory passerine bird which breeds in Europe, North Africa and across the Palearctic; and winters in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical Asia. It feeds on insects that are caught in flight, and it migrates to climates where flying insects are plentiful. Both the scientific and colloquial names of the bird are related to its use of human-made structures. It builds a closed cup nest from mud pellets under eaves or similar locations on buildings usually in colonies.

The Common house martin 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.


Population size
10-500 Mlnlnn
Life Span
5-14 years
Weight
18
goz
g oz 
Length
13
cminch
cm inch 
Wingspan
26-29
cminch
cm inch 


Common house martins breed in Europe, North Africa, and across the Palearctic and winter in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical Asia. They prefer open country with low vegetation, such as pasture, meadows, and farmland, usually near water. They may also be found in mountains and near trees since they provide insect food and also roosting sites. On their wintering grounds, Common house martins use similar open habitats. In the tropical parts of their wintering range, like East Africa and Thailand, they occur mainly in the higher areas.

Common house martins are social birds. They spend most of their day flying for hours hunting their prey. Common house martins hunt at a height of 21 m (69 ft) during the breeding season, typically within 450 m (1,480 ft) of the nest. They will also follow the plough or large animals to catch disturbed insects. On the wintering grounds, they usually hunt at a greater height of over 50 m (160 ft). Common house martins are migrants who move on a broad front, and they usually travel in daylight. They are noisy birds, especially in their breeding colonies. The male's song, given throughout the year, is a soft twitter of melodious chirps. The contact call is a hard 'chirrrp', and the alarm is a shrill 'tseep'.