Swallows · Perching birds
Eurasian Crag-Martin
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Ptyonoprogne rupestris
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Voice
Call
Song
How to recognize it
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14 cm, slightly larger than a sand martin
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Ash-brown upperparts, paler underparts
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Short square tail with white spots on most feathers
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Often low over cliffs, bridges, and buildings; flight with quick wingbeats and glides
About the species
Ash-brown above and paler below, the Eurasian Crag-Martin has a washed, earthy look in flight. Its short square tail carries clear white patches, and the underwing looks dark when it turns.
It stays close to rock faces and often makes low, sweeping passes rather than high, open flight. The voice is thin and brief — “pli” or “piieh” — and pairs defend nesting spots strongly.
Look for it on warm cliffs, in gorges, over streams, and around bridges or buildings that give it an overhang. It takes insects in the air, often close to the nesting site, and many European populations remain year-round while others move south for winter.
