The Caribbean martin or white-bellied martin is a large swallow.
Region
Caribbean Islands (Greater Antilles and nearby islands)
Typical Environment
This species is widespread across many Caribbean islands, especially in the Greater Antilles, and locally on nearby smaller islands. It favors open areas near water, towns, and agricultural land where aerial insects are abundant. Martins readily use human-altered landscapes and are common around ports, coastal settlements, and interior valleys. They roost communally outside the breeding season and disperse widely over surrounding coastlines. Vagrants occasionally reach nearby mainland coasts.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Caribbean martin, also called the white-bellied martin, is a large swallow of the Caribbean islands. It often nests in cavities on cliffs or in human structures such as eaves and drain pipes, forming loose colonies. Its clean white underparts and glossy blue-black upperparts help distinguish it from darker-bellied Progne martins. It frequently perches on wires and makes short sallies to snatch flying insects.
In Tobago
Flying in Tobago
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
agile flier with rapid wingbeats and brief glides
Social Behavior
Often forms loose colonies for nesting, using natural cavities or man-made structures. Pairs are monogamous within a season, and both sexes feed the young. Outside the breeding season, birds gather at communal roosts and forage in mixed flocks with other swallows and swifts.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Vocalizations are a series of liquid twitters and soft chatters. Calls include buzzy cheks and rolling trills exchanged during flight and at colony sites.
Plumage
Glossy blue-black upperparts with white underparts and a narrow, sometimes patchy dark breast band; tail shallowly forked.
Diet
An aerial insectivore, it captures flies, beetles, wasps, winged ants, and other small flying insects on the wing. Foraging flights are swift and acrobatic, often high over open areas or along coastal breezes. Birds may concentrate over water where emergent insects are plentiful and will follow plumes of insects after rain. They occasionally feed in mixed flocks with other hirundines to exploit swarms.
Preferred Environment
Open airspace above lakes, rivers, coastal shores, fields, and urban skylines. Common around harbors and towns where perches and nest sites are abundant. Frequently uses wires, masts, and rooftops as vantage points between feeding bouts.
