Page 275 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

MARTINS AND SWALLOWS
Order Passeriformes Family Hirundinidae Species Riparia riparia
Sand Martin

often perches on earth all-brown
brown bank or at entrance upperparts
upperwings to nest-hole
brown
breast-band

upright
posture while
perching on
twigs or wires
ADULT ADULT
IN FLIGHT
white underparts
brown wings
(juvenile has pale
feather edges on
wings)
he hirundines – swallows and martins – are
Tall small, aerial birds but the Sand Martin
is the smallest, with the weakest, most ADULT
fluttering flight.This is belied by the fact
that it is the earliest to arrive in Europe
each spring, often reaching the UK in
early March. Conditions at this time are still very taxing
for a bird that relies on flying insects for food. It is then that
Sand Martins are restricted almost entirely to lakes and reservoirs FLIGHT: weak, fluttery, with fast in-out wing flicks,
where early insects are most reliable.They soon concentrate on their wings angled well back; faster when flocks going to
traditional colonies, but are also quick to exploit new possibilities, roost in reedbeds, or if predator nearby.
even small roadside cuttings and sand
quarries which may only be suitable for
a year or two.Artificial embankments
specially made for them are successful.
VOICE Low, dry, slightly rasping or
chattering chrrrrp; song rambling,
chattering, weak twitter.
NESTING Bores long hole into earth
or soft sandstone; 4 or 5 eggs; 2 broods;
April–July.
FEEDING Aerial; catches insects in COLONIES
flight, often over water; sometimes feeds Sand Martin colonies are easy to see in earth banks
on bare ground. and sand quarries, but restricted to a few localities.
OCCURRENCE
SIMILAR SPECIES Breeds in earth cliffs, sandy river
banks, and gravel pits throughout
ALPINE SWIFT SWIFT blue-black Europe except Iceland. Wide-
see p.251 see p.249 back spread in river valleys, typically
stiff wings
all-dark near water, and most often over
water in early spring, but also
in moorland areas with eroded
much larger
earth cliffs.
HOUSE MARTIN
stiff wings
white rump; Seen in the UK
see p.277 J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 12cm (4 3 ⁄4in) Wingspan 26–29cm (10–11 1 ⁄2in) Weight 13–14g ( 7 ⁄16 – 1 ⁄2oz)
Social Small flocks Lifespan Up to 5 years Status Declining
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