Pale Crag Martin
Ptyonoprogne obsoleta

>> GENERAL >>>>>

– small passerine, slightly smaller than Common House Martin
– mainly non-migratory but dispersal of juveniles

>> VISUAL ID >>>>>


Pale Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne obsoleta ssp.
BIF2466, 15/02/2015, Ash Shuwaymiyyah, Oman, Mathias Putze
– smaller and generally colder grey coloured than Eurasian Crag Martin
– silhouette very similar to Eurasian Crag Martin, best told apart by different underwing pattern (only outer coverts darker not as strongly contrasting to the remiges)
– underside including throat and chin lighter grey with the vent somewhat darker


Pale Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne obsoleta ssp.
BIF2468, 15/02/2015, Ash Shuwaymiyyah, Oman, Mathias Putze
– back and rump lighter and less contrasting to the wings than in Eurasian Crag Martin
– upperwing coverts slightly paler than remiges


Pale Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne obsoleta ssp.
BIF2469, 15/02/2015, Ash Shuwaymiyyah, Oman, Mathias Putze
– shows white ‘windows’ at the tail (only seen when fanned out)


Pale Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne obsoleta ssp.
BIF2467, 15/02/2015, Ash Shuwaymiyyah, Oman, Mathias Putze

>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>

– flight call a phrase consisting of four steep overslurs
monophonic with inharmonic partials
– may also sing during spring migration
– dry, hard, rolling impression


– detail –

– overview –
Pale Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne obsoleta ssp., call in flight
BIF3123, 20/02/2019, Dead Sea Area, Israel, Patrick Franke


– detail –

– overview –
Pale Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne obsoleta ssp., song in flight
BIF3124, 20/02/2019, Dead Sea Area, Israel, Patrick Franke

>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>

Eurasian Crag Martin (v) (a)
Sand Martin (v) (a)
Brown-throated Martin (v)
Common House Martin (v)
Barn Swallow (v)
Red-rumped Swallow (v)
Little Swift (v)

#passerine #songbird

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