House Martin

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Delichon urbicum

Locally common Summer migrants from March-October with 379,000 pairs across Britain, plus 730,000 birds in Ireland.

Also breeds in mainland Europe & North Africa from April-August.

Winters in South Africa.

Adults are steel-blue above with a white rump, and white underparts, including the underwings; even its short legs have white downy feathering.

It has brown eyes and a small black bill, and its toes and exposed parts of the legs are pink.

The sexes are similar, but the Juveniles are sooty black, and some of its wing coverts and quills have white tips and edgings.

The white rump and underparts of the western house martin, very noticeable in flight.

The song is a a soft twitter of melodious chirps.