File:Sand_martin_(Riparia_riparia),_Guidel-Plage,_Brittany,_France_(19765483180).jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Sand Martin
Also known as Riparia riparia, Bank Swallow
species of bird
AI overview
A sand martin is a small bird that digs burrows in sandy riverbanks and cliffs to make its nest, and it catches insects while flying. These birds are found across much of the Northern Hemisphere and are important indicators of healthy river ecosystems and insect populations.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Species
Least Concernsand martin
Species
- PhylumChordata
- ClassAves
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyHirundinidae
Observations24,735
A small (4 ½ to 5 ½ inches) swallow, the Bank Swallow is most easily identified by its brown upperparts, white belly white throat, and dusty brown chest stripe separating the throat from the belly. This species may be separated from the similarly-patterned Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) by that species’ larger size and brown chin. The Bank Swallow occurs across much of the world. In the Americas, this species breeds from Alaska and central Canada south locally to the Mid-Atlantic region in the east and northern Mexico in the West, wintering on the Pacific coast of Mexico and further south to central South America. In the Old World (where it is known as the Sand Martin), this species breeds across Eurasia from Siberia south to North Africa and the Indian subcontinent, wintering across tropical Africa and South Asia. Historically, Bank Swallows bred in a variety of habitats near water, frequently building their nests on cliffs along the banks of rivers. Today, this species often nests on man-made structures such as buildings and bridges. In winter, this species is likewise found in habitats near water, including lakes, rivers, marshes, and reservoirs. Bank
via IUCN
Wikidata facts
~9 min read
Article
The sand martin (Riparia riparia), also known as the collared sand martin or common sand martin, and in the Americas as the bank swallow, is a migratory passerine bird in the swallow family Hirundinidae. It has a wide range in summer, embracing practically the whole Holarctic area, from Europe, across Asia to the Pacific Ocean, and throughout North America. It winters in eastern and southern Africa, southern Asia, and South America.
Taxonomy