Crag Martin Bird Facts (Ptyonoprogne rupestris)

The Crag Martin is a small, compact swallow with a brownish-grey upper body and slightly paler underparts. Its tail is square-ended with distinctive white spots on the inner webs of all but the central and outermost tail feathers.

Both sexes look alike, with juveniles closely resembling adults but showing slightly paler edges to their wing coverts.

The Crag Martin is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

The Crag Martin is not typically found in Garden habitats.

The Crag Martin is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

The Crag Martin is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

The Crag Martin can be found in Urban habitats.

The Crag Martin is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

The Crag Martin is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

The Crag Martin is not typically found in Desert habitats.

The Crag Martin is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

The Crag Martin is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

The Crag Martin can be found in Mountain habitats.

The Crag Martin is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Crag Martins inhabit rocky areas, including mountain cliffs, gorges, and coastal regions across southern Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia. They have adapted well to urban environments, often nesting on buildings and bridges.

While primarily resident in warmer parts of their range, northern populations migrate south for winter. They are rare summer visitors in the UK, occasionally breeding on southern coastal cliffs.

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Crag Martin. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Gibraltar

Species that pass through the area during migration

Bahrain Qatar Saudi Arabia Sudan United Arab Emirates

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Belgium Denmark Finland Gambia The United Kingdom

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Crag Martin displays exceptional agility, being an adept aerial acrobat capable of swift, precise movements. Its ability to swoop and glide along cliff faces and catch insects mid-flight demonstrates remarkable manoeuvrability.

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

Whilst not particularly strong compared to larger birds, the Crag Martin possesses adequate strength for its size. It can carry mud and other materials for nest building and is capable of long-distance flights during migration.

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Crag Martins show high adaptability, thriving in various habitats from sea level to 4,500 metres. Their successful colonisation of urban environments, using buildings for nesting, further exemplifies their adaptable nature.

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Generally non-aggressive, Crag Martins are social birds that nest in small colonies. They may display mild territorial behaviour during breeding season, but are not known for marked aggression.

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

These birds demonstrate considerable endurance, capable of long migratory journeys and sustained aerial feeding at high altitudes. Their ability to forage at up to 3000 metres and navigate diverse climatic conditions indicates robust endurance.

Crag Martins are insectivores, primarily feeding on flying insects such as flies, beetles, and moths. They catch their prey in flight, often foraging at higher altitudes than other swallow species. During colder weather, they may glean insects from rock surfaces or vegetation.

Crag Martins are agile flyers, often seen swooping and gliding along cliff faces and around buildings. They frequently engage in aerial feeding, catching insects on the wing. These birds are generally social, nesting in small colonies and sometimes forming mixed flocks with other swallow species during migration or winter.

The Crag Martin's call is a soft, musical twitter, often described as 'prrt-prrt' or 'tser-tser'. During courtship or when defending territory, they produce a more rapid series of notes. Their calls are typically given in flight and are less strident than those of other swallow species.

Crag Martin breeding season typically begins in April and can extend into August. Pairs often return to the same nesting site year after year, forming small colonies.

The nest is a quarter-sphere of mud pellets mixed with grass and feathers, usually built on a sheltered cliff ledge or under the eaves of buildings. The female lays 3-5 white eggs with brown spots.

Both parents incubate the eggs for about 14 days. The young fledge after 24-27 days but may return to the nest to roost for several weeks after fledging.

The Crag Martin typically lives for 4 to 8 years.

Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.

The Crag Martin is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Its population appears stable across much of its range, benefiting from human structures for nesting. However, local declines may occur due to habitat loss or climate change impacts on insect populations, their primary food source.

Look for Crag Martins near rocky cliffs, gorges, and tall buildings
Observe their distinctive flight pattern: swift with frequent glides
Listen for their soft, twittering calls during flight
Check for white spots on the tail when the bird is perched or in flight
In the UK, search for them at coastal cliffs in southern England during the summer months

Main predators include peregrine falcons, sparrowhawks, and other birds of prey. Snakes and small mammals may also prey on eggs and nestlings.

Crag Martins can fly at altitudes of up to 3,000 meters while foraging.
They often reuse and repair their nests from previous years.
Crag Martins have been observed nesting inside caves in some areas.

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