Specie's Page                                              House Martin - Garden and Hedgerow

House Martin:

UK Status: Summer visitor, breeds in the UK.

Habitat: This bird breeds in the Uk where there is an abundance of insects, and suitale places to nest. They often seen around lakes and pools, either collecting mud for nesting, or hunting insects while on the wing. House Martins spend the best part of their lives in flight, only landing to nest, and collecting nesting material.

Breeding: Nests are made of balls of mud mixed with this birds own saliva. These mud balls are then cemented together to make an almost enclosed dome, the nest is often placed under the eaves of buildings. Often domestic houses are used and some suitable commercial buildings, and occasionally under rock ledges as well. Birds usually have a single brood each year, though in some years there may be two clutches consisting of four to five glossy white eggs.

Comment: This bird usually arrives in the UK from late April until late May, sometimes into early June. Arrival time in the UK depends upon the seasonal weather from year, to year along their migratory routes from Africa. In September 2026 I was on holiday on the east coast of Yorkshire, their were House Martins Nesting under the eave of our holiday apartment. The parents and siblings of the first brood were busy feeding the second brood chicks still on the 12th of the month.