Eurasian Crag-Martin
Ptyonoprogne rupestris
Unlike most swallows, crag-martins do not migrate to sub-Saharan Africa, opting instead to winter in the milder Mediterranean basin or move down to lower altitudes.
- Scientific name
- Ptyonoprogne rupestris
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Hirundinidae › Ptyonoprogne
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- increasing
- Biome
- cave
- Habitat
- Rocky cliffs, mountain gorges, canyons, and concrete structures like bridges.
- Diet
- Flying insects, including flies, beetles, aphids, and wasps.
- Range
- Southern Europe, North Africa, Middle East, South Asia
- Size
- Length: 13-15 cm, Wingspan: 32-34.5 cm, Weight: 20-23 g
- Lifespan
- 3-5 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Climate change altering insect abundance, habitat loss from cliffside developments, and nest disturbance.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. Observe these agile flyers from a respectful distance, especially near cliff faces or stone bridges where they nest. Do not disturb their mud nests. If you find an injured bird, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator.
The Eurasian crag martin or just crag martin ( Ptyonoprogne rupestris ) is a small passerine bird in the swallow family. It is about 14 cm (5.5 in) long with ash-brown upperparts and paler underparts, and a short, square tail that has distinctive white patches on most of its feathers. It breeds in the mountains of southern Europe, northwestern Africa and southern Asia. It can be confused with the three other species in its genus, but is larger than both,...
Photo: S.MORE, CC0, via iNaturalist
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