(Temporary)

The house martin is a small bird with glossy blue-black upper parts and pure white under parts. It has a distinctive white rump with a forked tail and, on close inspection, white feathers covering its legs and toes. It spends much of its time on the wing collecting insect prey. The bird's mud nest is usually sites below the eaves of buildings. They are summer migrants and spend their winters in Africa. Although still numerous and widespread, recent moderate declines earn them a place on the Amber List.

Where does it live?

Breeding

They are common in and around villages and towns, and are more likely to be found in larger centres of population than swallows, their near relatives. They mainly nest on buildings, often forming colonies. Some still nest on cliffs, which would have been their breeding habitat before man.

Wintering

Upland areas of Africa south of the Sahara.