Delichon
| Delichon | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
House martin ( Delichon urbicum ) |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Delichon | ||||||||||||
| Moore at Horsfield & Moore, 1854 |
Delichon is a genus withinthe swallow family . The three associated species are native to Eurasia . In addition to the house martin ( D. urbicum ), which isalsowidespreadin Central Europe , the Nepalese house martin ( D. nipalensis ) and the Asian house martin ( D. dasypus ) belong to this genus. "Delichon" is an anagram of the ancient Greek word χελιδών chelīdōn for "swallow".
Characteristic for the species of the genus are the blue-black to black upper side of the body, the white trunk and the white rump . The body length is 10 to 12 centimeters. The external differences between the three types are slight.
The distribution area of the House Martin is greatest. It stretches from Europe to Asia. This species is a long-distance migrant ; a large part of the European population overwinters in an area that extends from the southern border of the Sahara to the Cape Province . The Asiatic House martin is restricted to Asia; their area adjoins the range of the house martin in the south. The smallest distribution area is the Nepalese swallow , it extends from Burma to China. It breeds on vertical and vegetation-free rock faces .
All three species are considered not to be endangered.
Individual evidence
- ^ House Martin Delichon urbicum (Linnaeus, 1758) . In: Bird facts . British Trust for Ornithology. Retrieved January 24, 2008.
literature
- Angela K. Turner , Chris Rose : A Handbook to the Swallows and Martins of the World. Christopher Helm, London 1989, ISBN 0-7470-3202-5 .
