Fairy martin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fairy martin |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Petrochelidon
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| Species: |
ariel
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| Synonyms | |
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Hirundo ariel |
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The fairy martin (Petrochelidon ariel) is a small bird. It belongs to the swallow family. These birds are found in Australia. They are known for building unique mud nests.
Fairy martins are migratory birds. They spend their winters across most of Australia. Some even travel to New Guinea and Indonesia. They are also sometimes seen in New Zealand. This bird prefers open areas near water. You often spot them near their nests on cliffs or bridges.
Appearance and Sounds
The fairy martin is a small, plump bird. It has a short, square tail. It is about 12 cm long. It weighs around 11 g.
Adult fairy martins have a shiny blue back. Their wings and tail are brown. They have a reddish-brown head and neck. Their rump (the area above the tail) is whitish. Their belly is a dull white color. Male and female birds look very similar. Young birds are duller and browner. They have a lighter forehead.
You can tell a fairy martin apart from other Australian swallows. Look for its pale rump. The tree martin looks similar. But it has a slightly forked tail. Its head and neck are blue-black.
Fairy martins are very vocal birds. Their call sounds like chrrrr. Their song is a high-pitched twitter. These sounds are higher than those of the tree martin.
Life and Habits
Fairy martins breed from August to January. They live in colonies. These colonies usually have a few dozen nests. The largest known colony had 700 nests!
They build their nests in natural spots. These include holes in dead trees or riverbanks. They also use cliff faces and rock cracks. More and more, they build nests in man-made places. You can find them on bridges, in pipes, and on buildings.
The nest looks like a bottle or a retort. It is made from up to 1000 mud pellets. The inside is lined with dry grasses and feathers. The main part of the nest is about 15 cm wide. The entrance tunnel is 5–30 cm long. Nests in a colony are built close together. Both parents help build the nest. They also share the job of incubating the eggs. They both care for the young birds.
A female fairy martin usually lays four eggs. Sometimes she lays five. The eggs are white with reddish-brown spots. These birds often have two or three groups of chicks in one breeding season.
Fairy martins eat flying insects. They catch them high in the air. They usually feed in large groups. They have a slow, fluttering flight. They fly higher than welcome swallows when hunting. They also eat insects flying low over water. They have even been seen eating injured moths on a freshly cut lawn. These birds love to be with others. They form big flocks, often with tree martins.
Who Lives in Their Nests
When a mud nest is empty after the breeding season, other animals might move in. Several types of small bats, called microbats, use these nests. These bats include the wattle bats. Some examples are the chocolate wattled bat and Gould's wattled bat. The small long-eared bat also uses these nests. They are like tiny apartments for bats!
See also
In Spanish: Golondrina ariel para niños
