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Western House-Martin

Delichon urbicum

Least Concern (IUCN Red List)Swallows
Western House-Martin, photographed by christoph_moning

Photo: christoph_moning · Wikimedia · CC-BY 4.0 (licence)

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Call and song

About the Western House-Martin

Distinctive small swallow with blue-black upperparts, a big white rump patch, and snow-white underparts. Juvenile in late summer and autumn is duller above and dingier below than adult. Compare with other swallows; note the relatively shallowly forked and streamerless tail, as well as jerky and fluttery flight. In east of range, overlaps with very similar Siberian House-Martin (formerly treated as one species); note present species’ significantly smaller rump patch. Breeds colonially, frequently building mud nests under the eaves of buildings; forages over varied open and semi-open habitats, especially water bodies and adjacent fields. Gives a soft burbling trill.

Species account: eBird.org, fetched 2025-12-26 · How these pages are made

Where it has been recorded

Recorded in 141 of the 253 countries we have eBird lists for. Each opens that country's checklist.

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