Brown-chested Martin
Progne tapera
Unlike many other martins, they do not excavate tunnels or build mud nests; instead, they frequently usurp the heavy, dome-shaped clay nests built by the Rufous Hornero.
- Scientific name
- Progne tapera
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Hirundinidae › Progne
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Open grasslands, savannahs, agricultural fields, pastures, and freshwater margins.
- Diet
- Aerial insects, including beetles, flies, winged ants, and termites.
- Range
- South America, Central America, Caribbean
- Size
- Length: 17-18 cm, Wingspan: 35-38 cm, Weight: 30-40 g
- Lifespan
- 4 to 6 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Pesticide use reducing insect prey abundance, and localized habitat loss.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. Safe to observe from any distance. Maintain a respectful distance from active nesting sites, particularly when they are utilizing the mud nests of other birds. If you find an injured martin, contact a local licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
The brown-chested martin ( Progne tapera ) is a species of passerine bird in the swallow family.
Photo: Millie Basden, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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