Ptyonoprogne rupestris

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.

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.

• Shirihai, H., 1996. The Birds of Israel. Academic Press, London.
• Symes, A. 2013. Species generation lengths. Unpublished, BirdLife International.
• Species page at Birdlife International