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'''Alternative names: Collared Sand Martin; Bank Swallow''' | '''Alternative names: Collared Sand Martin; Bank Swallow''' | ||
| − | [[Image:Sand_Martin.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|bo+shaheen|bo shaheen}}<br /> [[Kuwait]]]] | + | [[Image:Sand_Martin.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo © by {{user|bo+shaheen|bo shaheen}}<br /> [[Kuwait]]]] |
;[[:Category:Riparia|Riparia]] riparia | ;[[:Category:Riparia|Riparia]] riparia | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | Length 12-13 cm<br /> | + | [[Image:Sand martins in flight.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo © by the late '''[https://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showgallery.php/ppuser/50827/cat/500 Mahsleb]'''<br />[[Minsmere]], [[U.K.]], April 2016]] |
| + | Length 12-13 cm (4¾-5 in)<br /> | ||
*Dull earthy-brown upperparts | *Dull earthy-brown upperparts | ||
*White below | *White below | ||
| Line 10: | Line 11: | ||
*Bill and legs are blackish-brown<br /> | *Bill and legs are blackish-brown<br /> | ||
Sexes similar<br /> | Sexes similar<br /> | ||
| − | '''Juveniles''': tertials and upper wing coverts have pale fringes; breast band is less distinct. | + | '''Juveniles''': tertials and upper wing-[[Topography#General Anatomy|coverts]] have pale fringes; breast band is less distinct. |
====Similar Species==== | ====Similar Species==== | ||
| − | [[ | + | [[Image:Sand martins-nest burrow.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo © by {{user|Cristian+Mihai|Cristian Mihai}}<br />Fundulea, [[Romania]], June 2016]] |
| + | [[Image:Bank swallow burrows.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Photo © by {{user|HelenB|HelenB}}<br />Nest burrows along the Elbow River, Weaselhead, Calgary, [[Canada]], June 2004]] | ||
| + | The [[Eurasian Crag Martin]] is larger and flies more slowly. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Common Swift]]s appear all dark and very sickle or boomerang-shaped and are comparatively large compared to the three hirundines below. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Barn Swallow]]s are mostly pale from below and all dark above, has much longer tail streamers, a black breast and red throat. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Common House Martin]] are very white below and dark from above, with much shorter, dark tail, and a prominent white rump | ||
| + | |||
| + | Sand Martin are pale from below with a dark throat band, but noticeably brown-coloured. | ||
| + | |||
| + | There is a difference in the flying style too: House martin flight is more fluttery than a Barn Swallow which is faster, more direct and swooping, while Sand Martin are more fluttery still, and Common Swift are very fast and look somewhat stiff-winged. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Finally, the calls are all quite distinct: swift calls are quite loud and screeching, while swallows are more twittery and varied. House martin and Sand Martin calls are quite similar, less sustained than swallows possibly, and more chirpy and clipped, with sand martin being slightly scratchier or hoarse sounding. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | |||
Breeds in most of the northern hemisphere, wintering to [[Africa]], southern [[Asia]] and [[South America]]. | Breeds in most of the northern hemisphere, wintering to [[Africa]], southern [[Asia]] and [[South America]]. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| + | [[Pale Sand Martin]] has been split from the present species. | ||
| + | ====Subspecies==== | ||
Five to six subspecies are recognized:<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup><br /> | Five to six subspecies are recognized:<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup><br /> | ||
| − | ''riparia'': breeds widely in Holarctic regions; winters in the tropics<br /> | + | *''R. r. riparia'': breeds widely in Holarctic regions; winters in the tropics<br /> |
| − | ''ijimae'': Kamchatka Peninsula and Kuril Island to Amur River and Hokkaido<br /> | + | *''R. r. ijimae'': Kamchatka Peninsula and Kuril Island to Amur River and Hokkaido<br /> |
| − | ''shelleyi'': Lower [[Egypt]] and Suez Canal region<br /> | + | *''R. r. shelleyi'': Lower [[Egypt]] and Suez Canal region<br /> |
| − | ''eilata'': southern [[Israel]]<br /> | + | *''R. r. eilata'': southern [[Israel]]<br /> |
| − | ''innominata'': south-eastern [[Kazakhstan]]; may winter in [[Africa]] or southern [[Asia]] | + | *''R. r. innominata'': south-eastern [[Kazakhstan]]; may winter in [[Africa]] or southern [[Asia]] |
| − | are widely recognized - ''taczanowskii'' only by some authorities | + | these are widely recognized - ''taczanowskii'' only by some authorities. |
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Riverbanks, lakesides and sandpit, often seen in numbers hunting insects in low flight over lakes and rivers. Prior to and during migration they roost communally in large reedbeds | Riverbanks, lakesides and sandpit, often seen in numbers hunting insects in low flight over lakes and rivers. Prior to and during migration they roost communally in large reedbeds | ||
| Line 38: | Line 54: | ||
''[[Media:Riparia riparia (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ''[[Media:Riparia riparia (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref- | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug17}}#Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966 |
#Collins Field Guide 5th Edition | #Collins Field Guide 5th Edition | ||
#Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6 | #Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6 | ||
#British Garden Birds | #British Garden Birds | ||
| + | #BF Member observations | ||
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
| Line 47: | Line 64: | ||
<br /> | <br /> | ||
{{Video|Sand_Martin}} | {{Video|Sand_Martin}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Riparia]][[Category:Bird Songs]][[Category:Videos]] | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Riparia]][[Category:Bird Songs]][[Category:Videos]] | ||
Revision as of 20:18, 5 July 2018
Alternative names: Collared Sand Martin; Bank Swallow
- Riparia riparia
Identification
Length 12-13 cm (4¾-5 in)
- Dull earthy-brown upperparts
- White below
- Brown breast band
- Shallow forked tail
- Bill and legs are blackish-brown
Sexes similar
Juveniles: tertials and upper wing-coverts have pale fringes; breast band is less distinct.
Similar Species
The Eurasian Crag Martin is larger and flies more slowly.
Common Swifts appear all dark and very sickle or boomerang-shaped and are comparatively large compared to the three hirundines below.
Barn Swallows are mostly pale from below and all dark above, has much longer tail streamers, a black breast and red throat.
Common House Martin are very white below and dark from above, with much shorter, dark tail, and a prominent white rump
Sand Martin are pale from below with a dark throat band, but noticeably brown-coloured.
There is a difference in the flying style too: House martin flight is more fluttery than a Barn Swallow which is faster, more direct and swooping, while Sand Martin are more fluttery still, and Common Swift are very fast and look somewhat stiff-winged.
Finally, the calls are all quite distinct: swift calls are quite loud and screeching, while swallows are more twittery and varied. House martin and Sand Martin calls are quite similar, less sustained than swallows possibly, and more chirpy and clipped, with sand martin being slightly scratchier or hoarse sounding.
Distribution
Breeds in most of the northern hemisphere, wintering to Africa, southern Asia and South America.
Taxonomy
Pale Sand Martin has been split from the present species.
Subspecies
Five to six subspecies are recognized:[1]
- R. r. riparia: breeds widely in Holarctic regions; winters in the tropics
- R. r. ijimae: Kamchatka Peninsula and Kuril Island to Amur River and Hokkaido
- R. r. shelleyi: Lower Egypt and Suez Canal region
- R. r. eilata: southern Israel
- R. r. innominata: south-eastern Kazakhstan; may winter in Africa or southern Asia
these are widely recognized - taczanowskii only by some authorities.
Habitat
Riverbanks, lakesides and sandpit, often seen in numbers hunting insects in low flight over lakes and rivers. Prior to and during migration they roost communally in large reedbeds
Behaviour
Diet
The diet includes insects, such as flies and spiders that are caught in flight.
Breeding
Breeds colonially in vertical sandy or earth banks, e.g. in gravel-pits and river banks, where nest is excavated (often a good metre horizontally into the earth).
The nest burrow is built by both parents; the chamber being lined with plant material and feathers. The eggs are white, and shiny. Incubation and care of the young is carried out by both parents.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Riparia riparia (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
- Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
- Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
- British Garden Birds
- BF Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Sand Martin. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 24 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Sand_Martin
External Links
