house martin: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Intermediateformal (ornithology), informal (everyday birdwatching)
Quick answer
What does “house martin” mean?
A small migratory bird of the swallow family, Delichon urbicum, with a blue-black back, white underparts, and a distinctive white rump.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small migratory bird of the swallow family, Delichon urbicum, with a blue-black back, white underparts, and a distinctive white rump.
A common bird that often nests on the exterior walls of buildings, under eaves or in similar sheltered spots, forming cup-shaped mud nests.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used identically in both varieties. There is no alternative common name.
Connotations
Connotations are neutral, associated with summer, migration, and traditional rural or suburban settings.
Frequency
Equally common in regions where the bird is present. More frequent in UK English due to the bird's prevalence.
Grammar
How to Use “house martin” in a Sentence
The [NOUN] [VERB] around the eaves.A flock of [PLURAL NOUN] gathered.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “house martin” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The cliffs were house-martined with dozens of nests.
American English
- The barn was completely house-martined by June.
adjective
British English
- The house-martin colony on the vicarage was thriving.
American English
- We observed house-martin activity under the gable.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not typically used.
Academic
Used in ornithology, ecology, and environmental science papers.
Everyday
Used by birdwatchers and the general public when discussing garden birds or noting the arrival of summer migrants.
Technical
Used in species identification guides, conservation status reports, and zoological texts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “house martin”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “house martin”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “house martin”
- Misspelling as 'house martian'.
- Confusing it with a swift (Apus apus), which has longer, sickle-shaped wings and no white rump.
- Using 'house swallow' incorrectly.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
House martins have a distinctive white rump and shorter, less forked tails than barn swallows. They also build closed mud nests on walls, while swallows build open cup nests on beams inside buildings.
They migrate to sub-Saharan Africa to spend the winter months.
Yes, in many countries, including the UK, they are protected by law, and it is illegal to disturb their active nests.
They are aerial insectivores, catching small flying insects like flies and aphids while in flight.
A small migratory bird of the swallow family, Delichon urbicum, with a blue-black back, white underparts, and a distinctive white rump.
House martin is usually formal (ornithology), informal (everyday birdwatching) in register.
House martin: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhaʊs ˌmɑː.tɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhaʊs ˌmɑːr.t̬ən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “One swallow doesn't make a summer (sometimes extended to include house martins).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
"The HOUSE guest builds a MARTIN-gale (mud+gale) nest under the roof."
Conceptual Metaphor
HOUSE MARTIN AS A HARBINGER OF SUMMER.
Practice
Quiz
What is a key identifying feature of the house martin?