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Home » Species » Passeriformes » Hirundinidae » Petrochelidon » Petrochelidon nigricans - Vieillot, 1817
Species
Petrochelidon nigricans Vieillot, 1817
Nomenclature
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Family: HirundinidaeGenus: Petrochelidon
Species:
Petrochelidon nigricans Vieillot, 1817
Usage:
valid
Vernacular names:
Vernacular name:
Tree Martin, Australian Tree Martin
Media
SUMMARY
The Tree Martin averages 13 cm long and has a shallowly forked tail. The adult has an iridescent blue back and crown, brown wings and tail, a rufous forehead and a whitish rump. The underparts are white. The sexes are similar, but young birds are duller and browner, with a paler forehead and pale fringes to the back and wing feathers. The call of this vocal swallow is a tsweet and the song is a high-pitched twitter. This species can be distinguished from other Australian swallows by its tail shape and pale rump. The most similar species, the Fairy Martin, has a rufous head and nape.