House Martin
Delichon urbicum
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyHirundinidae (Swallows and Martins)
- GenusDelichon (House Martins)
- SpeciesDelichon urbicum (House Martin)
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 Vanoise National Park
Eurasian Crag Martin
Ptyonoprogne rupestris
Bank Swallow
Riparia riparia
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebs
Black Redstart
Phoenicurus ochruros
White Wagtail
Motacilla alba
Alpine Chough
Pyrrhocorax graculus
Carrion Crow
Corvus corone
Coal Tit
Periparus ater
Eurasian Blackbird
Turdus merula
Great Tit
Parus major
Common Raven
Corvus corax
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a House Martin in Vanoise National Park?
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a House Martin sighting in Vanoise National Park, based on 103 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see House Martin in Vanoise National Park?
June has the highest sighting rate for House Martin in Vanoise National Park in our monthly data.