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  • House martin

House martin

House martin
House martin
  • Scientific name: Delichon urbicum
  • Bird family: Swallows and martins
  • UK conservation status: Red
  • Protected by The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

House martin call audio

Your browser does not support this audio feature.

Patrik Aberg, Xeno-canto

Key information

The house martin is a small bird with glossy blue-black upper parts and pure white under parts. It has a distinctive white rump with a forked tail and, on close inspection, white feathers covering its legs and toes. It spends much of its time on the wing collecting insect prey. The bird's mud nest is usually sited below the eaves of buildings. They are summer migrants and spend their winters in Africa. Although still numerous and widespread, recent moderate declines earn them a place on the Red List.

What they eat:

Insects.

Measurements:

Length:
12cm
Wingspan:
26-29cm
Weight:
15-23g

Population:

UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.
UK breeding:
510,000 pairs

Identifying features:

House martin

House martin in flight
Feather colour: Black Blue White
Leg colour: White
Beak: Black Short Thin
Natural habitats: Farmland Urban and suburban Wetland

Similar birds:

Flying Swallow illustration
Swallow
Sand martin
Sand martin
Flying Swift illustration
Swift

Where and when to see them

You'll find house martins across UK, although they are scarce in far N and W of Scotland. Mostly associated with man, found around towns and villages. Feeds on aerial insects and so is most frequently seen in areas of mixed agriculture, near water and in the vicinity of woodland.

* This map is intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.
  • Resident
  • Passage
  • Summer
  • Winter
House martin distribution map

You can see house martins when they return to the UK in March/April, often feeding over wetlands for a while before returning to their traditional nest sites, remaining here until September/October before migrating south.

  • jan
  • feb
  • mar
  • apr
  • may
  • jun
  • jul
  • aug
  • sep
  • oct
  • nov
  • dec

Meet our wonderful wanderers

Birds are migrating thousands of miles right now to raise their families in the UK. Click here to find out more about their amazing journeys, and what you can do to help them.

Discover more

In more depth

Conflict with sparrows

Conflict with sparrows

Damaged or broken nests

Damaged or broken nests

Encouraging them to nest

Encouraging them to nest

House martin population trends

House martin population trends

House martins breeding and nesting habits

House martins breeding and nesting habits

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