Tree Martin
Petrochelidon nigricans
Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyHirundinidae (Swallows and Martins)
- GenusPetrochelidon (Cliff Swallows and Allies)
- SpeciesPetrochelidon nigricans (Tree Martin)
About the Tree Martin
The tree martin (Petrochelidon nigricans) is a member of the swallow family of passerine birds. It breeds in Australia, mostly south of latitude 20°S, and on Timor island. It is migratory, wintering through most of Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia east of the Wallace Line, and the Solomon Islands. It is a vagrant to New Zealand, where it has bred, and New Caledonia. This species is frequently placed in the genus Hirundo as Hirundo nigricans.
This is a bird of open woodland, preferably with large trees to provide nest holes. It is increasingly common in urban and suburban areas. The tree martin was formally described in 1817 by the French ornithologist Louis Vieillot under the binomial name Hirundo nigricans. The specific epithet is Latin meaning "blackish". Vieillot gave the type locality as "Nouvelle-Hollande" (New South Wales) but this has been corrected to Hobart, Tasmania. The tree martin is now one of ten swallows placed in the genus Petrochelidon that was introduced in 1851 by the German ornithologist Jean Cabanis.
Three subspecies are recognised: P. n. timoriensis Sharpe, 1885 – the smallest subspecies, breeds on Sumba, Timor and Alor Island (southwest, east... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Tree Martin in Kakadu National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Kakadu National Park
Fairy Martin
Petrochelidon ariel
Torresian Crow
Corvus orru
Willie Wagtail
Rhipidura leucophrys
White-bellied Cuckooshrike
Coracina papuensis
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Oriolus flavocinctus
Paperbark Flycatcher
Myiagra nana
White-gaped Honeyeater
Stomiopera unicolor
Lemon-breasted Flycatcher
Microeca flavigaster
White-throated Honeyeater
Melithreptus albogularis
Magpie-lark
Grallina cyanoleuca
Dusky Honeyeater
Myzomela obscura
Spangled Drongo
Dicrurus bracteatus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maria Island National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Flinders Ranges National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Ningaloo Marine Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Flinders Chase | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Daintree National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 6 | Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 7 | Cape Range | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 8 | Freycinet National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 9 | Grampians National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 10 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 11 | Litchfield National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 12 | Kosciuszko National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 13 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 14 | Springbrook National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 15 | Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 16 | Lamington National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 17 | Wilsons Promontory National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 18 | Kakadu National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 19 | Royal National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 20 | Noosa National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 21 | Komodo National Park | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | |
| 22 | Nitmiluk National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 23 | Raja Ampat | 🇮🇩 Indonesia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Tree Martin in Kakadu National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Tree Martin sighting in Kakadu National Park, based on 16 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Tree Martin in Kakadu National Park?
April has the highest sighting rate for Tree Martin in Kakadu National Park in our monthly data.