Common house martin / Mehlschwalbe (Delichon urbicum)

House martins nesting on the historic buildings in xx. 2025-05-31 09:30:44 Etna

Observations

First documented observation: 2020-08-10 at the Luppmen. Most recent observation: 2025-09-02 in Pfaeffikon.

Description

Classification: Genus Delichon (Delichon); Family Swallows (Hirundinidae)
General: This one is a swallow in German but a martin in English.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL V
Etymology: Der Kontaktlaut ist ein hartes trieer, gelegentlich lautmalerisch auch als chirrp umschrieben. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-23 - 10-27
Breeding: 05-21 - 09-28
Migration in: 03-23 - 06-09
Migration out: 08-18 - 10-27
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=12 cm, wingspan=26-29 cm, weight=15-23 g
Habitats: Settlement

Similar species

Looks similar to: Barn swallow.

Vocalisation

Song: Song: Mehlschwalbe klingt weniger melodisch als der Rauchschwalbe [Link]
Merry improv of chirping, contact call [Link]
Song: Song a merry improvisation of chirping, contact call-like sounds (sometimes recalling a budgerigar). [Link] Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic, fast, Frequency: 2-7 KHz
XC730813 - Common House Martin - Delichon urbicum - song and call according to recordist Fernando Aranguren Jiménez, recorded in Spain. Spain ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC730813 - Common House Martin - Delichon urbicum - song and call according to recordist Fernando Aranguren Jiménez, recorded in Spain.mp3 Spain (song)


Calls: Contact call a rolling "krreet". Similar to Sand Martin but noticeably dryer, more rolling and less raucous. Typically varies the pitch of the call more. Warning call a sharp and plaintive "tsreee". [Link] 1: Heard from in the air, loud, with lots of chirps!
2:
XC742347 - Common House Martin - Delichon urbicum - flight call, recorded in Spain.

XC742347 - Common House Martin - Delichon urbicum - flight call, recorded in Spain. Spain ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC742347 - Common House Martin - Delichon urbicum - flight call, recorded in Spain.mp3 Spain (flight call)

Birdnet 864 flight call - Common house martin.

Birdnet 864 flight call - Common house martin. Luppmen 2020-08-10 14:45:28 ♫ 2020-08-10 14:45:28 Source: BirdNet 20200810_144528 birdnet 864 flight call - Common house martin.mp3 Luppmen (flight call)

Call attributes: Call melody: simple rhythmic, fast, Frequency: 4-7 KHz,