House Martin

Delichon urbicum

The swift-flying architect of mud nests transforms eaves and buildings into bustling summer colonies around the world.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The House Martin is a small, compact swallow with distinctive white underparts and rump contrasting with glossy blue-black upperparts. Its short, forked tail and white-feathered legs are key identifying features. The bird's head is flat, and its bill is short and black.

Both sexes look alike, with juveniles showing a duller plumage and a less pronounced fork in the tail. There are no significant seasonal plumage changes in this species.

Size

Length

13cm to 15cm

Wingspan

26cm to 29cm

Weight

15g to 23g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Blue White

Secondary Colour

Black

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Pink

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The House Martin can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The House Martin is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The House Martin is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The House Martin is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The House Martin can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The House Martin can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The House Martin is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The House Martin is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The House Martin is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The House Martin is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The House Martin is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The House Martin is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

House Martins are widely distributed across Europe, Asia, and parts of North Africa. They prefer open country near human settlements, including farmland, villages, and suburban areas. These birds are particularly common in the UK, where they are familiar summer visitors.

During winter, House Martins migrate to sub-Saharan Africa, with some populations travelling as far as South Africa. In spring, they return to their breeding grounds in Europe and Asia, typically arriving in April or May.

Elevation Range

Up to 2,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a House 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