Biometrics
Length: 13 - 15 cm
Wingspan: 32 - 34,5 cm
Curiosities
Because it can be seen throughout the year, in certain areas of the country it is called “winter swallow”.
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- Andorinha-das-rochas (Ptyonoprogne rupestris)
Eurasian crag martin
(Ptyonoprogne rupestris)
Class Aves, Order Passeriformes, Family Hirundinidae
General description
The Eurasian crag martin is greyish-brown in colour, being slightly lighter on the abdomen. Its wing coverts are dark in colour, contrasting with the rest of the colouring. When it opens its short, square tail, it is possible to see small, white spots. Its tiny beak is mostly black, its eyes are dark brown, and its feet are pink with shades of brown. The males and females of this species look very similar.
Feeding
This species is insectivorous, feeding mainly on insects that it hunts during flight near slopes and rocky walls. However, it can also pick up insects directly from rocks, soil, or the surface of the water.
Behavior
Compared to other swallows, the crag martin’s flight is more agile, erratic and acrobatic, changing direction swiftly and frequently. It builds half-cup-shaped nests that are open from above inside rocky crevices or on cliffs.
In Portugal
Unlike other species of swallow in Portugal, the crag martin can be seen throughout the year. It is distributed from north to south, though not in high densities, being more common in the interior parts of the country. This bird can be spotted in rocky habitats, such as mountainous areas, where they form nesting colonies. However, it can also occur in urban areas, nesting on bridges or walls of buildings.