Asian House Martin

Asian House Martin

Scientific Name: Delichon dasypus

Malay Name: Layang-layang Gunung Asia

Chinese Name: 烟腹毛脚燕

Range: Breeding Range: (EU) s, e Nonbreeding Range: OR

Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: cashmeriense, nigrimentale, dasypus.

Local Subspecies: dasypus

Size: 12-13 cm

Identification: Adult resembles Barn Swallow but has all darkish-blue head and upperparts with broad greyish-white rump and underparts, darkish underwing-coverts and shallow forked tail.

Similar looking species: Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Siberian House Martin

Habitat: Forest and open areas.

Behaviour/Ecology:

Local Status: Uncommon migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Location: Grassfields like Marina East Drive and Neo Tiew, as well as at Jelutong Tower and Henderson Waves observed on migration.

Featured articles:

Featured reports: Oct 2022, Nov 2022, Dec 2022, Oct 2023, Nov 2023, Oct 2024, Nov 2024, Dec 2024, Jan 2025

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Asian House Martin Delichon dasypus
Estimated average number of individuals by week based on eBird data, Jul 2014 to Jun 2024
Peak week Oct 22-Oct 28
Early date 07 Oct 1995
Late date 11 Mar 2017
Previously considered a rare migrant, an increased number of sightings in recent years might be due to better coverage of raptor migration hotspots.
Asian House Martin at Gunong Raya, Langkawi. Photo Credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Asian House Martin at Jelutong Tower. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Asian House Martin at Gunong Raya, Langkawi. Photo Credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Asian House Martin at Neo Tiew Harvest Lane. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Asian House Martin at Jelutong Tower. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Asian House Martin at Jelutong Tower. Photo credit: Francis Yap

External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Asian House-Martin)

References:

BirdLife International. (2016). Delichon dasypus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22712491A94335116.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Asian House Martin. Retrieved on July 20, 2025 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/asian-house-martin.

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