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Ptyonoprogne rupestris

warning Vulnerable
VU (D1)

Contributed: Avner Rinot, Asaf Mayrose, Ezra Hadad

The Eurasian Crag Martin is classified as Vulnerable (VU) due to the extremely small size of its breeding population, estimated at less than 50 adult individuals combined with a regional adjustment for the fact that the breeding population in Israel is a marginal population at the edge of the global range of the species. In the previous edition of the Red Book (2002), it was classified as Least Concern (LC). The change in its threat category reflects differences in the assessment methods between the two editions and not a significant change in the status of the population.
VU Current Regional Assessment | LC Previous Regional Assessment | LC World Assessment

Presence In Israel Summer Breeder, Winter Visitor, Migrant
Nesting In Israel Breeder, Non-Breeder
Migration Types Short Range / Partial
Zoography Zones Alpine, Irano-Turanian
Landscape Formations Mountainous, Cliffs
Vegetation Densities Low
Nest Locations Cliffs, Buildings
Diet Types Invertebrate
Foraging Grounds Aerial
Body Sizes Small (up to 500g)
Threat Factors Unknown

The Eurasian Crag Martin is a medium sized martin with a wide chunky body. It is brown-grey with darker, contrasting underwing coverts.

A few Eurasian Crag Martins nest in Israel, only on the higher areas of Mt. Hermon, from the outskirts of Majdal Shams to the upper ski lift, at an altitude of 1,300-2,200 meters (Ezov 1986, Israeli & Perlman 2013).

The Eurasian Crag Martin nests in mountainous areas in the Alps, the Caucasus and east to the Himalayas, and in our region in the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon mountains. It builds a nest of mud attached to a cliff, house wall or power pole.

No specific conservation measures have been taken for this species to date.

  • ישראלי, נ. ופרלמן, י. 2013. סיכום סקר עופות מקננים בחרמון. דו"ח מרכז הצפרות של החברה להגנת הטבע.
  • פז, ע. 1986. עופות. מתוך אלון, ע. (עורך), החי והצומח של ארץ ישראל. כרך 6. הוצאת משרד הביטחון, ישראל.
Contributed: Avner Rinot, Asaf Mayrose, Ezra Hadad

Current Occupancy Map

Distribution maps

The maps presented here provide visual information on the distribution of species in Israel in the past and present, and the changes in occupancy and nesting density during the comparison period. For further reading


Relative Abundance 2010-2020

Breeding density values as calculated from observation records and expert opinions.

Relative Abundance 1980-1990

Breeding density values are based mainly on the book Birds of Israel (Shirihai 1996).

Occupancy difference 1990-2020

A map that expresses differences in the breeding distribution between the evaluation periods (1980-1990 versus 2010-2020). Negative value - species previously present but is currently absent, positive value - species has not been recorded previously and is currently present, zero - no change in occupancy.

Relative abundance difference 1990-2020

A map that reflects the changes in the relative abundance of the species between the evaluation periods (1980-1990 versus 2010-2020). Negative values - decline in abundance, positive values - increase in abundance, zero - no change in abundance.


Rarity
Vulnerability
Attractiveness
Endemism
Red number
Peripherality

IUCN category
Definition

() districts
Disjunctiveness:
% of protected sites

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