Pale Crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne obsoleta)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Pale Crag Martin

Ptyonoprogne obsoleta (Cabanis, 1851)

10 gWeight

The pale crag martin (Ptyonoprogne obsoleta) is a small passerine bird in the swallow family that is resident in Northern Africa and in Southwestern Asia, east to Pakistan.

Busiest months: March and November · Most records: Israel, United Arab Emirates, Palestinian Territories

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Pale Crag Martin has been recorded at 96 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 22 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. International Birding and Research Center Eilat (IBRCE)Israel3,464 records
  2. Private estate near Green MubazzarahUnited Arab Emirates3,217 records
  3. Gazelle ValleyIsrael1,079 records
More places
  1. Eilat – KM20 Flamingo Pools 20Israel1,029 records
  2. Green MubazzarahUnited Arab Emirates1,023 records
  3. Wamm FarmsUnited Arab Emirates955 records
  4. Eilat – KM19 Sewage Ponds 19Israel721 records
  5. Yeruham LakeIsrael602 records
  6. Kfar AdumimPalestinian Territories518 records
  7. Jerusalem Bird ObservatoryIsrael468 records

Countries and regions with the most records

IsraelUnited Arab EmiratesPalestinian TerritoriesOmanJordanEgyptMoroccoSaudi Arabia

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The pale crag martin (Ptyonoprogne obsoleta) is a small passerine bird in the swallow family that is resident in Northern Africa and in Southwestern Asia, east to Pakistan. It breeds mainly in the mountains, but also at lower altitudes, especially in rocky areas and around towns. Unlike most swallows, it is often found far from water.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Pale Crag Martin?

The Pale Crag Martin weighs around 10 g.

Where does the Pale Crag Martin live?

Its breeding range: Palearctic, Africa: south-central, also northern Africa. It is most often recorded in Israel, United Arab Emirates and Palestinian Territories.

When is the best time to see the Pale Crag Martin?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in March and November (Northern Hemisphere).

Is the Pale Crag Martin endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Pale Crag Martin as Least Concern.

What does the Pale Crag Martin eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Pale Crag Martin in?

It belongs to the family Swallows, Martins (Hirundinidae), order Passerines (Passeriformes).

At a glance

Weight
10 g
Habitat
Rocky terrain
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Feeds in the air
Migration
Partial migrant
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
118 mm
Tail
52 mm
Bill
12 mm
Tarsus
11 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Palearctic, Africa: south-central, also northern Africa

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Family
Swallows, Martins Hirundinidae
Genus
Ptyonoprogne

Other birds in the genus Ptyonoprogne

Eurasian Crag MartinEurasian Crag MartinPtyonoprogne rupestrisRed-throated Rock MartinRed-throated Rock MartinPtyonoprogne rufigulaLarge Rock MartinLarge Rock MartinPtyonoprogne fuligulaDusky Crag MartinDusky Crag MartinPtyonoprogne concolorAfrican River MartinAfrican River MartinPseudochelidon eurystominaWhite-eyed River MartinWhite-eyed River MartinPseudochelidon sirintaraeSquare-tailed Saw-wingSquare-tailed Saw-wingPsalidoprocne nitensWhite-headed Saw-wingWhite-headed Saw-wingPsalidoprocne albicepsMountain Saw-wingMountain Saw-wingPsalidoprocne fuliginosaBlack Saw-wingBlack Saw-wingPsalidoprocne pristoptera
Pale Crag Martin

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Jake Smith. ↗

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