Swallows · Perching birds
Western House-Martin
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Delichon urbicum
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Voice
Alarm
Sonothèque ADVL
Song
Jochem verweij
Call
Grégoire Chauvot
How to recognize it
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Small martin with steel-blue upperparts
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Pure white underparts and white rump, obvious in flight
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Tail not deeply forked, only a shallow notch
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Often feeding over houses; nests under eaves and ledges
About the species
Western House-Martin looks light and quick, with a clean white underside and a bright white rump that flashes in flight. In town, it is easier to notice by the way it skims and turns over roofs and water than by any single detail.
It is a social, noisy companion, especially around colonies. Its voice is modest rather than loud, with short chattering calls and a soft twitter, and it spends most of the day on the wing.
It favors open ground near water and settled places with good nesting ledges. It catches flying insects in the air and now often breeds on houses, bridges, and under eaves, leaving northern areas when the season turns.
Where to find
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On stone or brick buildings — under eaves and bridges, where summer colonies hang beneath the ledge and the air is full of insect-chasing swoops.
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Along riverbanks, ponds, and canal edges — especially over nearby lawns and open water, where it skims low after midges.
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Near squares or courtyards with damp mud patches — watch for small groups on wires, ferrying pellets for nest-building.
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In older streets with tall facades — around cornices, ornaments, and window ledges, with a sharp twittering call from above.
You might also see
Sources
- eBird — Delichon urbicum Sightings map and full description on eBird
- Wikipedia — Western house martin Encyclopedia article