Gray-breasted Martin

Gray-breasted Martin

Taxobox
name = Gray-breasted Martin
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Hirundinidae
genus = "Progne"
species = "P. chalybea"
binomial = "Progne chalybea"
binomial_authority = (Gmelin, 1789)

The Gray-breasted Martin, "Progne chalybea", is a large swallow.

The nominate race "P. c. chalybea" breeds from Mexico through Central America south to central Brazil, and on Trinidad. "P. c. macrorhamphus" breeds further south in South America to central Argentina. The southern subspecies migrates north as far as Venezuela during the southern hemisphere’s winter, and the nominate form also undertakes local movements after the breeding season.

The Gray-breasted Martin nests in cavities in banks and buildings, or old woodpecker holes. 2-4 eggs are laid in the lined nest, and incubated for 15-16 days, with another 22 to fledging.

Adult Gray-breasted Martins are 18 cm in length, with a forked tail and relatively broad wings, and weigh 39g. Adult males are a glossy blue-black with the grey-brown throat, breast and sides contrasting with the white lower underparts. Females are duller than the male, and juveniles have dull brown upperparts.

Gray-breasted Martins are gregarious birds which hunt for insects in flight. Their call is a gurgly "chew-chew", similar to that of the closely related Caribbean Martin. The latter species is slightly larger, and has more contrasting underparts.

References

* "Swallows and Martins" by Turner and Rose ISBN 0-7470-3202-5
*cite book
last = ffrench
first = Richard
title = A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago
edition = 2nd edition
year = 1991
publisher = Comstock Publishing
isbn = 0-8014-9792-2
*cite book
last = Hilty
first = Steven L
title = Birds of Venezuela
publisher = Christopher Helm
date = 2003
location = London
isbn = 0-7136-6418-5


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