House Martin

Delichon urbicum

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
FamilyHirundinidae (Swallows and Martins)
GenusDelichon (House Martins)
SpeciesDelichon urbicum (House Martin)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

3 Verified sightings at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park From 2019 to 2026

21,349 Verified sightings across all 82 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the House Martin

The western house martin (Delichon urbicum), sometimes called the common house martin, northern house martin or, particularly in Europe, just house martin, is a migratory passerine bird of the swallow family which breeds in Europe, north Africa and west-central Asia; and winters in sub-Saharan Africa and southwestern Asia. It feeds on insects which are caught in flight, and it migrates to climates where flying insects are plentiful. It has a blue head and upperparts, white rump and pure white underparts, and is found in both open country and near human habitation. It is similar in appearance to the two other martin species of the genus Delichon, which are both endemic to eastern and southern Asia. It has two accepted subspecies.

Both the scientific and colloquial name of the bird are related to its use of human-made structures. It builds a closed cup nest from mud pellets under eaves or similar locations on buildings usually in colonies. It is hunted by the Eurasian hobby (Falco subbuteo), and like other birds is affected by internal parasites and external fleas and mites. Its large range and population mean that it is not threatened globally.

The western house martin... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Ptyonoprogne fuligula

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Cecropis cucullata

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Hirundo rustica

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Petrochelidon spilodera

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Hirundo dimidiata

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Riparia paludicola

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Dicrurus adsimilis

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Plocepasser mahali

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Philetairus socius

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Lamprotornis nitens

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Laniarius atrococcineus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Bradornis mariquensis

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Hohe Tauern National Park	🇦🇹 Austria	~50%
2	Monfragüe National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	~50%
3	Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	~50%
4	Plitvice Lakes National Park	🇭🇷 Croatia	~40%
5	Tatra National Park	🇸🇰 Slovakia	~40%
6	Aigüestortes National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	~40%
7	Picos de Europa National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	~40%
8	Pyrénées National Park	🇫🇷 France	~30%
9	Ecrins National Park	🇫🇷 France	~30%
10	Triglav National Park	🇸🇮 Slovenia	~30%
11	Doñana National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	~30%
12	Cairngorms National Park	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	~30%
13	Fertő-Hanság National Park	🇭🇺 Hungary	~30%
14	Hortobágy National Park	🇭🇺 Hungary	~30%
15	Gauja National Park	🇱🇻 Latvia	~30%
16	Vanoise National Park	🇫🇷 France	~30%
17	Mercantour National Park	🇫🇷 France	~30%
18	Białowieża National Park	🇵🇱 Poland	~20%
19	Sierra Nevada National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	~20%
20	Cévennes National Park	🇫🇷 France	~20%
21	Biebrza National Park	🇵🇱 Poland	~20%
22	Snowdonia National Park	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	~20%
23	Kiskunság National Park	🇭🇺 Hungary	~20%
24	Wadden Sea National Park	🇩🇪 Germany	~20%
25	Bavarian Forest National Park	🇩🇪 Germany	~20%
26	Sierra de Guadarrama National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	~20%
27	Gonarezhou National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~10%
28	Niokolo-Koba National Park	🇸🇳 Senegal	~10%
29	Arusha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~10%
30	Camargue	🇫🇷 France	~10%
31	Meru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
32	Aberdare National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
33	Lake Manyara National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
34	Mana Pools National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	<5%
35	Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park	🇲🇳 Mongolia	<5%
36	Lake Nakuru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
37	South Luangwa National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	<5%
38	Kafue National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	<5%
39	Pilanesberg National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
40	Kruger National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
41	Ngorongoro Conservation Area	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
42	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
43	Hwange National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	<5%
44	Chobe National Park	🇧🇼 Botswana	<5%
45	Moremi Game Reserve	🇧🇼 Botswana	<5%
46	Tarangire National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
47	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
48	Addo Elephant National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
49	Satpura National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
50	Etosha National Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	<5%
51	Nairobi National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
52	Amboseli National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
53	Serengeti National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
54	iSimangaliso Wetland Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
55	Samburu National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
56	Masai Mara National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
57	Queen Elizabeth National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	<5%
58	Kanha National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
59	Virunga National Park	🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo	<5%
60	Bale Mountains National Park	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	Insufficient data
61	Mudumalai National Park	🇮🇳 India	Insufficient data
62	Lower Zambezi National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	Insufficient data
63	Kidepo Valley National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
64	Mkomazi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
65	Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data
66	Mikumi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
67	Liwonde National Park	🇲🇼 Malawi	Insufficient data
68	Awash National Park	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	Insufficient data
69	Ruaha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
70	Gorongosa National Park	🇲🇿 Mozambique	Insufficient data
71	Garden Route National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data
72	Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data
73	Semuliki National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
74	Akagera National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	Insufficient data
75	Lake Mburo National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
76	Vatnajokull National Park	🇮🇸 Iceland	Insufficient data
77	Kibale National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
78	Jim Corbett National Park	🇮🇳 India	Insufficient data
79	Namib-Naukluft National Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	Insufficient data
80	Bwindi Impenetrable National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
81	Doi Inthanon National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	Insufficient data
82	Table Mountain National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data

← Back to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

House Martin

About the House Martin

Recent sightings of House Martin in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Closest Relatives at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Rock Martin

Greater Striped-Swallow

Barn Swallow

South African Swallow

Pearl-breasted Swallow

Plain Martin

Fork-tailed Drongo

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

Social Weaver

Red-shouldered Glossy-starling

Crimson-breasted Gonolek

Mariqua Flycatcher

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found