Progne chalybea
The Grey-breasted Martin (*Progne chalybea*) is a robust and highly adaptable passerine bird belonging to the swallow family (Hirundinidae), easily recognized by its distinctive plumage. Measuring approximately 18 cm (7 inches) in length with a wingspan of about 39 cm (15.5 inches) and weighing 37-45 grams, this martin boasts glossy, iridescent blue-black upperparts that contrast sharply with its smoky grey throat and breast, leading to a clean white belly. Its tail is moderately forked, and ...
This species favors open and semi-open habitats, including savannas, pastures, agricultural areas, and urban centers, typically found from sea level up to 2000 meters in elevation.
Primarily insectivorous, the Grey-breasted Martin feeds almost exclusively on flying insects, including flies, beetles, bees, wasps, and ants, which it captures adeptly on the wing.
Grey-breasted Martins are diurnal and highly social birds, often forming large communal roosts, especially outside the breeding season, which can number in the thousands. They are masterful aerial insectivores, engaging in agile and swift flight as they hawk insects directly from the air. During ...
The Grey-breasted Martin exhibits a vast distribution spanning from Mexico, throughout Central America, and extensively across South America, reaching as far south as northern Argentina and southern Brazil. The northernmost breeding populations, including those in Mexico and parts of Central Amer...
Least Concern
- The Grey-breasted Martin is one of the most widespread martin species in the Americas, adapting to a vast range of environments from tropical lowlands to urban centers. - Unlike some other swallows, it often readily accepts human-made structures like bridges and buildings for nesting sites, dem...