# House Martin (*Delichon urbicum*) The House Martin is a small bird that loves to fly. It has a sleek body and often builds its nests under the eaves of houses. You can see them swooping and diving to catch insects in the air! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Nests near human homes, often in towns and villages. - **Also known as:** Common House Martin, European House Martin ![House Martin](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426798/objects/4563.jpg) ## Appearance The House Martin has glossy blue-black upperparts, including its head and back, contrasting sharply with its pure white underparts. It is easily recognized by a distinct, bright white rump patch and a short, forked tail. It looks stockier than similar swallows. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Hirundinidae - **Genus:** Delichon ## Interesting facts - House Martins construct intricate mud nests using over 1,000 mud pellets! - House Martins often reuse their mud nests year after year, sometimes for generations! - These speedy birds spend almost all day flying, even when eating or drinking! - They journey thousands of kilometers from Europe all the way to Africa each autumn! ## Special abilities - **Expert Mud Builder:** House Martins can construct incredibly strong, spherical nests from over a thousand mud pellets, protecting their chicks. - **Aerial Acrobat:** House Martins have incredibly agile flight and wide-gaping mouths that help them catch tiny flying insects mid-air. - **Social Nester:** House Martins often nest in large colonies on buildings, which helps them defend against predators and share information. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 13-15 cm - **Wingspan:** 26-29 cm - **Weight:** 0.018-0.023 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-5 years - **Speed:** 70 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-5 - **Incubation:** 13-16 days - **Migration Distance:** 6000 km ## Diet & Feeding House Martins are insectivores, expertly catching small flying insects high in the air for their meals. - **Primary Foods:** flies, midges, aphids, small beetles, wasps - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Common Kestrel (*Falco tinnunculus*) — Kestrels sometimes hunt adult House Martins. - **Parasitizes:** [House Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-sparrow) (*Passer domesticus*) — Sparrows often take over House Martin nests. - **Eats:** House Fly (*Musca domestica*) — House Martins eat countless flying insects like house flies. - **Eats:** Highland Midge (*Culicoides impunctatus*) — Midges are a tiny, important food source. - **Parasitizes:** Swallow Bug (*Oeciacus hirundinis*) — This bug feeds on House Martins and their young. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low House Martins are friendly and safe to watch from a distance. It's best to enjoy them without getting too close to their nests. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify House Martin? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is House Martin? 13-15 cm ### What is House Martin's wingspan? 26-29 cm ### How much does House Martin weigh? 0.018-0.023 kg ### How long does House Martin live? 3-5 years ### How fast can House Martin move? 70 km/h ### What does House Martin eat? House Martins are insectivores, expertly catching small flying insects high in the air for their meals. ### Where is House Martin usually found? Nests near human homes, often in towns and villages. ## Where to spot - [Pairi Daiza](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pairi-daiza) — Hainaut, BE · Zoo - [Biosphärenreservat Schaalsee](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/schaalsee-biosphere-reserve) — Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, DE · Park ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [House Martin: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-martin)