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 Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
Fairy Martin
Petrochelidon ariel
White-backed Swallow
Cheramoeca leucosterna
Welcome Swallow
Hirundo neoxena
Willie Wagtail
Rhipidura leucophrys
White-plumed Honeyeater
Ptilotula penicillata
Zebra Finch
Taeniopygia guttata
Singing Honeyeater
Gavicalis virescens
Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater
Acanthagenys rufogularis
Yellow-throated Miner
Manorina flavigula
Black-faced Woodswallow
Artamus cinereus
Gray Shrikethrush
Colluricincla harmonica
Purple-backed Fairywren
Malurus assimilis
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 Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Tree Martin sighting in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, based on 118 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Tree Martin in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park?
June has the highest sighting rate for Tree Martin in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in our monthly data.