Eurasian crag martin

The Eurasian crag martin, often simply referred to as the crag martin, is a delightful small bird belonging to the swallow family. Measuring approximately 14 cm in length, it features ash-brown feathers on its upper side and lighter shades on its underside. One of its distinguishing characteristics is the white patch on most of its tail feathers.

These birds inhabit the mountainous regions of southern Europe, northwestern Africa, and the Palearctic zone. While they share similarities with other crag martins, they can be differentiated by their larger size, brighter tail spots, and unique plumage tone.

When it comes to nesting, Eurasian crag martins exhibit remarkable creativity, constructing their mud nests on cliffs or even on human-made structures. Typically, they lay between 2 to 5 eggs, with the female primarily responsible for incubation. Both parents actively participate in caring for the chicks once they hatch.

Their diet consists predominantly of insects, which they adeptly capture in flight. However, they must remain vigilant against birds of prey and also contend with parasitic blood-sucking mites.

In terms of classification, the Eurasian crag martin belongs to the genus Ptyonoprogne and is closely related to other crag martins. Fortunately, this species is not at risk of extinction. With a substantial population and broad distribution, they are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Interestingly, their numbers are increasing, partly due to their adaptation to using human-made structures for nesting.