Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Tree Martin

Petrochelidon nigricans (Vieillot, 1817)

15 gWeight

The tree martin (Petrochelidon nigricans) is a member of the swallow family of passerine birds.

Busiest months: August–January · Most records: Australia, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: August–January · Most records: Australia, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea

Tree Martin has been recorded at 237 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 6 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Oxley Creek CommonAustralia2,575 records
  2. Western Treatment PlantAustralia1,981 records
  3. Herdsman LakeAustralia1,878 records
More places
  1. Eynesbury Forest and GrasslandsAustralia1,027 records
  2. Sandy Camp Road WetlandsAustralia985 records
  3. Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature ReserveAustralia979 records
  4. Alice Springs Sewage PondsAustralia932 records
  5. InalaAustralia918 records
  6. Broome Bird ObservatoryAustralia897 records
  7. Woodlands Historic ParkAustralia842 records

Countries and regions with the most records

AustraliaTimor-LestePapua New GuineaIndonesiaCocos (Keeling) IslandsNew Zealand

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 tree martin (Petrochelidon nigricans) is a member of the swallow family of passerine birds. It breeds in Australia, mostly south of latitude 20°S, and on Timor island. It is migratory, wintering through most of Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia east of the Wallace Line, and the Solomon Islands.

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

Questions

How big is the Tree Martin?

The Tree Martin weighs around 15 g.

Where does the Tree Martin live?

Its breeding range: Australasia: Lesser Sundas, Australia and Tasmania. It is most often recorded in Australia, Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea.

When is the best time to see the Tree Martin?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in January, August, September, October, November and December (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Tree Martin endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Tree Martin as Least Concern.

What does the Tree Martin eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Tree Martin in?

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

At a glance

Weight
15 g
Habitat
Shrubland
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Feeds in the air
Migration
Partial migrant
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
108 mm
Tail
58 mm
Bill
10 mm
Tarsus
11 mm

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

Range

Australasia: Lesser Sundas, Australia and Tasmania

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Family
Swallows, Martins Hirundinidae
Genus
Petrochelidon

Other birds in the genus Petrochelidon

Red-throated Cliff SwallowRed-throated Cliff SwallowPetrochelidon rufigulaPreuss's Cliff SwallowPreuss's Cliff SwallowPetrochelidon preussiRed Sea Cliff SwallowRed Sea Cliff SwallowPetrochelidon perditaSouth African Cliff SwallowSouth African Cliff SwallowPetrochelidon spiloderaStreak-throated SwallowStreak-throated SwallowPetrochelidon fluvicolaFairy MartinFairy MartinPetrochelidon arielAmerican Cliff SwallowAmerican Cliff SwallowPetrochelidon pyrrhonotaCave SwallowCave SwallowPetrochelidon fulvaChestnut-collared SwallowChestnut-collared SwallowPetrochelidon rufocollarisAfrican River MartinAfrican River MartinPseudochelidon eurystomina
Tree Martin

Download illustration

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

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