The 'House Martin' is a common summer visitor to these shores, so too is which other 'Martin'?
Common house martin coverts and quills have white tips and edgings. "D. u. lagopodum" differs from the nominate race in that its white rump extends much further onto the tail, and the fork of its tail is intermediate in depth between that of "D. u. urbicum" and that of the Asian house martin. The white rump and underparts of the common house martin, very noticeable in flight, prevent confusion with other widespread Palaeoarctic swallows such as the barn swallow ("Hirundo rustica"), sand martin ("Riparia riparia") or red-rumped swallow ("Cecropis daurica"). In Africa, confusion with grey-rumped swallow ("Pseudhirundo griseopyga") is possible, but that species
Common house martin Common house martin The common house martin ("Delichon urbicum"), sometimes called the northern house martin or, particularly in Europe, just house martin, is a migratory passerine bird of the swallow family which breeds in Europe, north Africa and temperate Asia; and winters in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical Asia. It feeds on insects which are caught in flight, and it migrates to climates where flying insects are plentiful. It has a blue head and upperparts, white rump and pure white underparts, and is found in both open country and near human habitation. It is similar in appearance to the two other