Fairy Martin
Petrochelidon ariel· 燕科(4 photos)
Locations:
Fairy Martin
12-13 cm. Small white-rumped swallow, very like Tree Martin, but note ginger crown, pale cheeks, whiter rump and underparts. Looks chunky and compact on wing; tail square, slightly forked; flies with quick, clipped wingbeats and glides. Dozens circle vicinity of breeding colonies, filling air with calls. Often in mixed flocks with Tree Martins, other swallows. Distinctive call immediately indicates its presence in mixed flocks.
- Other name
- Bottle Swallow.
- Similar Species
- Tree Martin: crown dark; cheeks smutty, rump less pure white; voice differs.
- Voice
- short, dry, churring 'drr, drr', wholly unlike twitter of Tree Martin.
- Habitat
- open country; rivers, creeks, wetlands; vicinity of cliffs, banks, bridges, caves, culverts, where nests are situated.
- Breeding
- Aug.-Jan. in s. Aust.; after rain in inland.
- Nest
- the only Aust. bird to build a mud-bottle nest with drooping, narrow entrance-spout. In colony of a few to dozens, nests often fused together: on walls, ceilings of caves, overhung banks, cavernous trees near water, but now often in large, concrete road-culverts; under bridges, eaves of masonry buildings. Old nests used by pardalotes, House Sparrows, Tree Martins, small bats.
- Eggs
- 4-5; whitish, finely freckled reddish or yellowish brown.
- Range & Status
- mainland Aust. except driest deserts; breeding not reported C. York Pen. (Q) or far Top End (NT). Vagrant Tas. and PNG. Regular migration from se. Aust. to n. Aust. in March-April, returning to breed Sept.-Oct. Uncommon.
