Photo: Aviceda / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Tree Martin
Petrochelidon nigricans
Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans) — 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 Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans) is a member of the Hirundinidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 15.4 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 nigricans
Quick facts
- Weight
- 15.4 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Hirundinidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Tree Martin is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Tree Martin is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans) belongs to the Hirundinidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Lesser Sundas, Australia and Tasmania.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 15.4 g, with a wing length of about 10.8 cm and a tail of around 5.8 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 6.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Tree Martin?
The Tree Martin is a small bird that weighs around 15.4 g.
Where does the Tree Martin live?
The Tree Martin is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Lesser Sundas, Australia and Tasmania, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Tree Martin belong to?
The Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans) belongs to the Hirundinidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Tree Martin eat?
The Tree Martin is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Tree Martin migrate?
The Tree Martin is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Tree 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 Tree Martin make?
1 real field recording of the Tree Martin — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Tree Martin's range?
The Tree Martin has a mapped global range of about 6.5 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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