House Martin
Delichon urbicum
RSPB Conservation Status – Red
Last seen – 1-9-22
The House martin is a small migratory bird species that can be found in the UK during the summer months.
It has a blue-black back, white underparts, and a distinctive forked tail.
Both male and female birds are similar in appearance.
Facts
Population – 500,000 pairs
Length – 12 cm
Wingspan – 26 – 29 cm
Weight – 15 – 23 g
Breeding
House martins breed between April and September, with females laying between 2-5 eggs.
Both parents incubate the eggs for around 14 days, and the chicks fledge after around 28 days.
The young birds will often return to the nest to roost with their parents during the first winter.
Habitat
House martins prefer open habitats with plenty of flying insects, such as farmland, wetlands, and urban areas.
They nest in colonies, building their distinctive mud nests on the sides of buildings and under eaves and bridges.
Food
House martins feed on flying insects, such as flies, mosquitoes, and aphids.
They catch these insects in the air using their agile flight skills, which include acrobatic twists and turns.