Tree Martin
Petrochelidon nigricans
Also known as: Australian Tree Martin
About This Species
Tree Martins hunt insects on the wing over open woodland, wetlands and towns, often mixing with other swallows and martins in loose flocks. Look for fast, agile flight with frequent glides and listen for soft chattering calls, especially around dusk when insect activity peaks. They breed in tree hollows or under eaves, so spring and summer in their Australian range offer the best chance of watching birds ferrying food to a nest site.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Keep well back from any hollow or crevice being used as a nest, since repeated visits near an active site can cause adults to abandon it.
- Native birds and their nests are protected under Australian Commonwealth and state wildlife legislation, so disturbing breeding activity can carry legal consequences.
- Watching from a distance with binoculars gives a better view of natural behaviour than approaching a colony directly.
LCAvesPasseriformesHirundinidae
Seasonal Activity
298,761 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Hirundinidae
Photo
(c) cinclosoma, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by cinclosoma
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.