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25

Sand Martin

(Riparia riparia)
Alternate name(s): "Common Sand Martin", "European Sand Martin",
"Collared Sand Martin" (Indian subcontinent), "Bank Swallow" (North America)
German name(s): "Uferschwalbe"

Size: 12-13 cm; wing span: 26.5-29 cm
Weight: 10-19 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Sand Martin at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "riparia"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-frontal view of an adult Sand Martin (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Near-frontal view of two Sand Martins, left and right, with a juvenile Barn Swallow (photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Parc du Sausset, 20 km North of Paris, France, July 2020]

Lateral view of a Sand Martin (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2017]

Lateral view of a Sand Martin (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2019]

Lateral view of a Sand Martin (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Sand Martins on a ledge of a steep sandy bank (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2017]

Sand Martins on a ledge of a steep sandy bank (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2017]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a Sand Martin in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2019]

Lateral view of a Sand Martin in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a Sand Martin in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2020]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a Sand Martin in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2020]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a Sand Martin in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2020]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a Sand Martin in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2020]

Dorsal/ventral view of a Sand Martin in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

Overview of Sand Martins in flight near a steep sandy bank (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2017]

Overview of Sand Martins in flight near a steep sandy bank (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2017]

Sand Martins in flight near a steep sandy bank (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2017]

Sand Martins exploring a steep sandy bank for its suitability for nesting (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2017]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of juvenile Sand Martins - note the pale edge lining on the feathers (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, July 2019]

Breeding information

Breeding season: May - Aug Eggs: 4 - 6 Incubation period: 14 - 15 days Fledging age: ca. 22 days

Except in the northern-most parts of their breeding range, Sand Martins usually have two broods per season.

Nest building: Female & male Incubation: Female & male Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

Type: Tunnel Material: Sand; straw, feather lining Height above ground: N/A

Sand Martins are the only Eurasian swallows or martins to use a tunnel for nesting. They can sometimes be found nesting in close proximity to several other tunnel-nesting species, such as European Bee-eaters.

Tunnels can be very shallow, more like a recess or a ledge, while others are up to 1 m long. Note the wide entrances which offer little protection against predators (while other species cut the opening to their tunnels as narrow as possible).

Frontal view of a Sand Martin at the entrance to its nest tunnel, (photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Near Vannes, Bretagne, France, August 2020]

Adult Sand Martin at the entrance to its "avant garde" nest tunnel, with a near-fledging age chick looking out
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2017]

"Time to fly, children!" - Sand Martin fledging day (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2017]

Change of the guard at a Sand Martin nest (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a Sand Martin at the entrance to its nest (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2020]

Sand Martin removing a piece of egg shell from its nest tunnel (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2015]

Overview of a small sand bank with Sand Martin nest tunnels just under the grassy edge; this site, where bird had been observed starting to dig tunnels in May, was already abandoned again in late July, after one breeding cycle
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, July 2017]

Sand bank with Sand Martin nest tunnels (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, July 2017]

Closer view of the entrances to Sand Martin nest tunnels in a sand bank (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, July 2017]

Eggs

Size: 17 x 12 mm Colour: White Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal Mobility: Migratory Elementary unit: Flock

Upon arrival in their summer quarters, Sand Martins have the habit of first staying in areas where they can find early insects, usually around April, before moving on to their breeding grounds.

Food, Diet

Adults: Small insects Dependents: As adults Water intake: Daily(?)

Like all other swallows known to us, Sand Martins are insect hunters. They feed in-flight on small insects.

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

sandmrt_jp_20200625.m4a riparia
(Portugal)
Contact calls © JP
sandmrt_dw_20200621.m4a riparia
(Poland)
Warning calls
(+ Common Cuckoo)
© DW

More Sand Martin sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.