Wildlifeof Bhutan
Nepal House Martin
Swallows & Martins
Photo: (c) Tristan Jobin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY (May be cropped or resized)
Delichon nipalense
Basic stats
Diet
Flies and other insects caught in flight
Habitat
River valleys and rugged wooded ridges at 1,000–4,000m, mainly below 3,000m; colonial mud nests under cliff overhangs
Range
Himalayas from north-western India through Nepal to Myanmar, northern Vietnam and just into China
Clutch size
3–4 white eggs
Size
13cm
The Nepal house martin is a non-migratory member of the swallow family, 13cm long, mainly blue-black above and white below, with a contrasting pure white rump. Unlike its relatives the Asian and common house martins, it has a black throat and black undertail. Its two subspecies breed in the Himalayas from north-western India through Nepal to Myanmar, northern Vietnam and just into China (Wikipedia, general species account).
It occurs in river valleys and rugged wooded ridges at 1,000 to 4,000m, mainly below 3,000m, nesting in colonies beneath overhangs on vertical cliffs, in an enclosed mud nest with three or four white eggs. It feeds in flocks with other swallows, catching flies and other insects in flight. It is largely resident, and when not breeding typically descends to 300m, occasionally to 150m.
Quick answers
- What does the Nepal House Martin eat?
- Flies and other insects caught in flight
- What habitat does the Nepal House Martin live in?
- River valleys and rugged wooded ridges at 1,000–4,000m, mainly below 3,000m; colonial mud nests under cliff overhangs
- Where is the Nepal House Martin found?
- Himalayas from north-western India through Nepal to Myanmar, northern Vietnam and just into China
- How many eggs does the Nepal House Martin lay?
- 3–4 white eggs
- How big is the Nepal House Martin?
- 13cm