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House martin. Photo: Barnardhouse martin

delichon urbica

  • Smaller than swallows
     
  • White rump
     
  • Build mud nests under the eaves of houses
     

  • Feed much higher than swallows and have shorter tail forks|
  • The white breast is dusky in the juvenile
     
  • Song, often delivered from telephone lines, is a babbling twitter
     

Where found

Under the eaves of a building, or tucked under a ledge or a tiled roof. Often seen feeding over water or in open farmland with swallows.

Found throughout the UK, although less common in northern England and Scotland.
 

When to look for

  • A summer visitor from late April.
     
  • Most depart from Britain by October.