Western house martin
The house martin (Delichon urbica) is a small bird known for its striking appearance and unique nesting habits. Measuring about five inches (12 centimeters) in length and weighing around one ounce (28 grams), these birds feature glossy blue and black plumage on their heads and backs, with soft white underbellies. Commonly found across Europe during the summer, house martins often breed under the eaves of buildings or roost along power lines, demonstrating a preference for urban and rural environments alike. They primarily feed on insects, such as aphids and small flies, which they skillfully catch in mid-air.
House martins are social creatures, frequently building nests in close proximity to one another, and they display strong familial bonds. During the mating season from May to September, they construct cup-shaped nests using mud, twigs, and grasses. A typical clutch consists of four to five white eggs, which both parents incubate for about two weeks. After hatching, the young remain in the nest for roughly one month, often assisted by older siblings in feeding. House martins are migratory, traveling to sub-Saharan Africa for the winter, and they have a lifespan of five to six years. Their fascinating behaviors and adaptability make house martins an intriguing subject for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts.
Subject Terms
House martin
During the summer, the house martin is seen throughout much of Europe, breeding under house eaves and roosting, or resting, along power lines. Many of these small birds may build their muddy nests under the same house eave.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Hirundinidae
Genus: Delichon
Species: Urbica
A small bird, the house martin grows to be just five inches (12 centimeters) long and weighs just one ounce (28 grams). The house martin has a wingspan of between 10 and 11 inches (26 and 28 centimeters). The adult house martin has glossy blue and black plumage, or feathering, across its head and back. Its belly is covered with soft, white feathering. The young house martin does not have blue and black plumage but instead is covered with many soft, brown feathers.
The house martin may be found in the city or the county, wherever there are trees, power lines, or branches on which it may perch. During the summer, the house martin is often seen throughout Europe in parks, gardens, farm fields, and city squares. Some scientists suspect the house martin is able to sleep while flying.
The house martin lives mainly on a diet of insects, such as aphids and small flies. During the winter, the house martin migrates, or travels, to sub-Saharan Africa where there is a greater supply of insects. Like many other birds, the house martin catches its prey in mid-air. It often darts upward to catch unsuspecting insects.
Mating season for the house martin takes place between May and September. Pairing between the male and female house martin takes place during the spring migration north. When a new pair arrives at the nesting grounds, it quickly begins the process of constructing a nest. The two birds collect mud in their bills, along with small twigs and grasses. The house martin rarely lands on the ground, except when collecting mud and other items for nest building. These items are pressed together to form a round, cup-shaped nest. The house martin builds its nest against the side of a house or building. A pair of house martins returns to the same nest year after year. Once the nest is built or located, the pair mates. The female then lays four to five white eggs. These eggs are incubated, or warmed, by both parents during the two-week incubation period before the young hatch from their eggs. The young house martins remain in their nests, being fed by their parents for about one month. At the end of the month, the young house martins are ready to fledge, or fly for the first time. A pair of house martins may have as many as three broods, or batches of young, during each mating season. Young from the first brood often help feed the young from the second and third broods. Parents and older siblings feed young house martins balls of insects which they press together in their throats and then transfer to the young.
The house martin has an average life span of about five or six years.