Sand Martin

Riparia riparia

A graceful and agile member of the swallow family, these gregarious migratory birds are most numerous along waterways where they nest in vertical eroded sand banks.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Sand Martin is a small, slender swallow with distinctive brown upperparts and white underparts. Its most notable feature is a brown breast band contrasting with the white throat and belly.

The wings are long and pointed, typical of swallows, with darker flight feathers. Their short legs are greyish, and they have large black eyes and a short, straight black bill.

Juveniles resemble adults but have buff-tipped wing coverts and a less defined breast band. There is little seasonal variation in plumage, and males and females are virtually indistinguishable in the field.

Size

Length

12cm to 14cm

Wingspan

26cm to 29cm

Weight

10g to 18g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown White

Secondary Colour

Grey

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Brown

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Sand Martin is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Sand Martin is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Sand Martin can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Sand Martin can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Sand Martin is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Sand Martin is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Sand Martin can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Sand Martin is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Sand Martin is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Sand Martin is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Sand Martin is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Sand Martin is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Sand Martins inhabit open country near water, including riverbanks, lakeshores, and coastal cliffs. They require vertical sandy banks or cliffs for nesting. Their breeding range spans across Europe, Asia, and North America.

In winter, they migrate to warmer regions in Africa, southern Asia, and South America. In the UK, they are summer visitors, arriving in April and departing by October, with some passing through during migration.

Elevation Range

Up to 2,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical, Tropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Sand Martin. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons