Brown-chested Martin Progne tapera Scientific name definitions

The Brown-chested Martin is a common inhabitant of grasslands and other open habitats from Colombia south to Argentina.  All populations of Brown-chested Martins have sandy upperparts and crown, white underparts and an indistinct brown breast band.  The southern subspecies, fusca, also has a string of dusky marks down the center of the breast, and so often can be identified in the field. Brown-chested Martins can be distinguished from the similar Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) by their much larger size.  With a diet of flying insects, Brown-chested Martins forage by flying low and fast over grassland or open water.  The southern subspecies fusca is migratory, and forms large post-breeding flocks of hundreds of thousands of birds.  The southern populations of the Brown-chested Martins migrate as far north as Panama.

16 cm; 30–40 g. Nominate race has crown and upperparts sandy brown, wings and tail darker brown, tail slightly forked; chin, throat and abdomen white, indistinct brown breastband; undertail-coverts long and white. Distinguished from Riparia riparia by much larger size. Sexes alike. Juvenile has side of throat more grey-brown, squarer tail. Race <em>fusca</em> is larger, darker, has more distinct breastband, dusky marks on lower breast and abdomen.

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Open or semi-open areas with trees, often near water, also human habitations, including towns. Forages over grassland, clearings, rivers and cultivation. Up to c. 1600 m; migrant fusca up to 4000 m.

Nominate race resident, S race (fusca) migratory ; forms large post-breeding flocks of hundreds or thousands of birds, sometimes with other hirundines. S populations move N to N South America and as far as Panama, where present from Mar to Oct/Nov; also recorded in Costa Rica. Vagrant in USA (Massachusetts, New Jersey, Florida).

Diet includes flies (Diptera), beetles (Coleoptera), bees, wasps and ants (Hymenoptera), termites (Isoptera), bugs (Hemiptera), dragonflies (Odonata), butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera); in Venezuela, nestlings fed mainly with dipterans, hymenopterans and small lepidopterans, with some termites and bugs, but given more large dragonflies as they grew. Feeds alone or in small groups. Flies fast and low over vegetation or water, also slowly around trees or open ground; also high up when feeding on swarming termites and ants.

Song is harsh and guttural with series of gurgling sounds; contact call “chu-chu-chip”.

Apr–Jun in Venezuela, Mar–May in Colombia; Nov–Mar in S. Solitary or in small loose groups (of eight bridges along one road, five had only one nest, two had three and one had four); aggressive towards intruders. Nest made from dry grass, lined with feathers, placed in hole in termite nest, earth bank, tree, bridge or building; old nests of Rufous Hornero (Furnarius rufus) often used in S (race fusca). Clutch 3–5 eggs, usually 4; incubation by female, bouts 2–25 minutes in dry weather, up to 54 minutes in wet, period 14–15 days; nestlings fed by both sexes, fledging c. 28 days; young stay near nest for several days. In one study, 6 of 10 clutches lost to predators or flooding, and 10 of 14 nestlings fledged.

Not globally threatened. Generally common; uncommon in Ecuador. In S of range, may be limited by availability of hornero nests. Large flocks roosting on buildings are sometimes considered a nuisance by local human inhabitants.