General Description
A small bird, with blue-black to brown wings, a white underbody and a pinkish-red head. The short, slightly-forked tail appears square in flight. Males and females are similar; juvenile birds are duller in colour. Body size up to 12 cm.
Biology
The Fairy Martin is a member of the swallow family and is known as the 'Bottle Swallow' for its characteristic bottle-shaped mud nests. A colonial nester, these birds build mud nests that are packed closely together on the ceilings of caves, and under bridges or other similar structures. Both sexes build the nest and share incubation and care of the young. Feeds high in the air on flying insects, usually in large flocks. The call is a soft, churring and twittering sound.
Distribution
Across Australia.
Habitat
Open country near water, and is usually seen near its nest sites, on cliffs, culverts or bridges.
More Information
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Animal Type
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Animal SubType
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Brief Id
Small bird, red head, short forked tail.
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Colours
Blue-black, White, Pink
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Maximum Size
12 cm
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Diet
Insects
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Diet Categories
Insects
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Endemicity
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Commercial
No
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Conservation Statuses
CITES: Not listed, FFG Threatened List: Not listed, EPBC Act 1999: Not listed, IUCN Red List: Least Concern
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Taxon Name
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Common Name
Fairy Martin
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Other Names
Bottle Swallow
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Kingdom
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Phylum
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Subphylum
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Class
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Order
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Family
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Genus
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Species Name
ariel
