ARE THESE MARTINS

[Guest]

LOOK LIKE FLY LIKE,BUT DON'T SEEM TO HAVE RIGHT VOCALS. HELP???

[Mary Dawnsong]

Hi,

That is definitely not a martin.
I think its a Northern Rough-winged Swallow, but I've never seen one perched or that close. I'm not a competent field birder, so don't take my word for it!

Great photos:
http://www.birdphotography.com/species/nrws.html
http://www.bird-friends.com/BirdPage.ph ... %20Swallow


Link to vocalizations:
http://www.imperial.cc.ca.us/birds/rw-swllw.htm

Has a pair claimed a martin gourd?
Now, that would be unusual!!

My best, Mary

[Glen Webb Jr]

Whoops, didn't see all the photos before. I thought this was a double post. That last photo is beautiful. It would be cool if they took to gourds. I'd have gourds up all over the place if they'd do that! Yes, again, it is a rough-winged swallow. Martins are much larger than a rough-wing.

[Guest]

I WAS REALLY AFRAID THAT THEY WORN'T MARTINS,BUT WHAT BETTER PLACE TO GET OTHER PEOPLE'S OPIONS.DOES ANYONE THINK THERE STILL TIME ENOUGHT HERE IN WEST TENN.HALFWAY BETWEEN MISS. & TENN. RIVERS REGON,OR IS IT ANOTHER LONG WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR.

THANKS AGAIN
I R COTTON-TN

[Guest]

I WAS REALLY AFRAID THAT THEY WORN'T MARTINS,BUT WHAT BETTER PLACE TO GET OTHER PEOPLE'S OPIONS.DOES ANYONE THINK THERE STILL TIME ENOUGHT HERE IN WEST TENN.HALFWAY BETWEEN MISS. & TENN. RIVERS REGON,OR IS IT ANOTHER LONG WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR.

THANKS AGAIN
I R COTTON-TN

[Guest]

We have those at our house too. They are smaller than martins and fly the same way only faster. I think you've got rough-winged swallows. The ones at our house build nests in the drainage holes in the retaining wall. I've never seen them compete for PM housing, but they do fly with each other. Their call reminds me of X-wing fighters from Star Wars. Very hard to describe, but it sounds like old sound effects lasers firing.

[CUL Lou~Mich]

I R. I don't think it's too late for you. Seems like just a day or so ago, I was hearing about Subbies finally arriving South of Jackson. I'd sure not give up just yet. You should have from a couple of weeks, to a month yet. Keep after the European Starlings, and English House Sparrows, to make your site more attractive. CUL Lou

[Glen Webb Jr]

Their call reminds me of X-wing fighters from Star Wars. Very hard to describe, but it sounds like old sound effects lasers firing.

LMAO Shelley, you are absolutely right. That is what they sound like!