Sand Martin
Riparia riparia
Sand martins dig their own nesting burrows in colonies into vertical sand faces, which often end up looking riddled with holes. The brown breast band on otherwise white underparts distinguishes them from other swallows.
- Group
- Swallows & Swifts
- Photos
- 2
- Taken
- 2023–2026
Profile: Sand Martin
- Family
- Swallows and martins (Hirundinidae)
- Size
- approx. 12–13 cm
- Wingspan
- approx. 26.5–29 cm
- Weight
- approx. 11–16 g
- Habitat
- Loamy or firm sandy banks and cliffs along rivers and coasts, as well as sand, clay and gravel pits.
- Diet
- Small flying insects, caught on the wing over meadows and fields or low over water.
- When to see
- Long-distance migrant. In Central Europe roughly from April to September; winters in sub-Saharan Africa.
Learn more: Wikipedia · NABU (German)