martin species small birds genus swallow family martin pale martin rock martin martin closely related considered species closely related barn placed genus authorities small brown paler breast band square tail white patches distinguished size colour shade minor plumage details like throat colour resemble sand martin darker lack breast band species mountainous habitats frequent human african rock martin south asian martin resident martin partial birds breeding southern europe largely resident northern breeders asian birds migratory north africa india normally form large breeding colonies outside breeding season build neat mud nests cliff mountain homes readily adapted artificial cliffs provided buildings motorway bridges eggs white dark wider end laid second clutch common feed mainly insects caught flight patrol cliffs near breeding site slow hunting flight seek prey hunted infected large ranges populations mean considered threatened classed concern iucn red list taxonomy species martin described italian naturalist pale martin described rock martin described german zoologist martin formally described british soldier moved new genus german genus derived greek fan referring shape opened tail mythological girl turned swallow members swallow family birds placed subfamily comprises distinctive river dna sequence studies suggest major broadly type nest built groups core including species like sand martin nest birds like tree swallow natural mud nest builders species construct mud nest belong group resemble species open cup nests build closed cups like closed nests entrance tunnel genus closely related larger swallow genus dna analysis showed coherent enlarged genus contain mud builder genera nests resembles typical species like barn swallow dna research showed house considered separate genus normally case split small pale northern subspecies martin found mountains north_africa arabian peninsula usually split pale martin remaining birds identified martin description long brown grey plumage short square tail small white patches near tips central pairs feathers eyes brown small bill mainly black legs brownish pink sexes similar juveniles pale edges flight feathers species differ plumage shades size martin significantly larger flight slow rapid wing beats interspersed flat winged songs birds simple contact calls include high pitched like house martin confused sand genus smaller species slightly larger robust sand martin brown sand martin white tail spots absent ranges species overlap martin darker larger rock martin larger paler particularly martin white tail spots martin significantly larger relatives east range rock martin lighter contrasted martin distribution habitat exclusively species rock martin breeds africa middle_east far afghanistan pakistan replaced martin east india martin breeds africa southern europe southwestern northeastern china northern populations martin migratory european birds north africa asian breeders going southern china indian middle_east european birds stay north mediterranean like populations warmer areas india turkey cyprus lower ground breeding martin rock largely resident apart local movements breeding birds descend lower altitudes pale northern rock north african southern arabian winter south alongside local subspecies mainly breed dry warm sheltered cliffs mountainous areas martin reaches use buildings artificial cliffs enabled breeding expansion lowland areas particularly tropical species rock martin breeds desert towns birds join flocks martin cliffs buildings winter behaviour breeding martin pairs nest suitable sites available small loose colonies form common south rock martin pairs recorded aggressively defend nesting territory species nest built adults weeks mud lined soft dry grass feathers half cup constructed vertical wall cliff shaped bowl like barn swallow placed sheltered nest built rock cliff face man structure second brood subsequent years usually raised rock martin nest time season clutch eggs white brownish grey particularly wide end egg size ranges average weight martin weight martin adults eggs days hatching feed chicks times hour days later fledged young continue fed parents time fly feeding feed mainly insects caught flight occasionally feed ground breeding birds fly forth rock face catching insects bills usually feeding close nesting territory maintain high frequency young fed adults mainly forage best hunting zones immediate vicinity nest fly catch insects longer bring food chicks nest times hunt low open ground insects taken depend locally available include flies aerial spiders ants beetles feed groups food abundant insects fleeing grass fires martin aquatic species pond cliff faces generate standing waves concentrate insects near vertical areas exploit area close cliff hunt relying high ability perform tight turns predators parasites hunted fast birds prey african hobby hobby catching flight attack migrating species treats common common predators approach nesting cliffs martin recorded diet greater false vampire bat host parasites including blood genus nasal species found nests martin species include rock martin nest fly european martin nests status species extensive ranges large populations increasing use artificial nest sites enabled range expansion rock martin breeds lowland desert towns martin range expanding austria switzerland yugoslavia romania bulgaria martin spreading south lowland westwards hills plains recent unconfirmed report large ranges presumed high numbers mean considered threatened classed concern iucn red list
Crag martin