Photo: Jim Bendon from Karratha, Australia / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Fairy Martin
Petrochelidon ariel
Fairy Martin (Petrochelidon ariel) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Fairy Martin (Petrochelidon ariel) is a member of the Hirundinidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 10.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Hirundinidae Swallows, Martins
- Genus Petrochelidon
- Species ariel
Quick facts
- Weight
- 10.8 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Hirundinidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Fairy Martin is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Fairy Martin is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Fairy Martin (Petrochelidon ariel) is a member of the Hirundinidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Australia (except Tasmania, se Australia).
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 10.8 g, with a wing length of about 9.2 cm and a tail of around 4.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 5.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Fairy Martin?
The Fairy Martin is a very small bird that weighs around 10.8 g.
Where does the Fairy Martin live?
The Fairy Martin is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Australia (except Tasmania, se Australia), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Fairy Martin belong to?
The Fairy Martin (Petrochelidon ariel) belongs to the Hirundinidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Fairy Martin eat?
The Fairy Martin is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Fairy Martin migrate?
The Fairy Martin is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Fairy Martin endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Fairy Martin make?
1 real field recording of the Fairy Martin — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Fairy Martin's range?
The Fairy Martin has a mapped global range of about 5.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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