upperwing

upperwing underwing European distribution adult excavating nest

Identification

The Sand Martin is the smallest, most lightly built, member of the martin family and the only one which doesn't build a nest. Instead, it excavates holes in sand banks, creating small, busy colonies. In Britain they are easily identified because they are the only martins which look brown in flight rather than black. They don't have the white rump of a House Martin or the long tail streamers of a Swallow. In south-western Europe they also have to be distinguished from Crag Martins which are also generally brown, but much chunkier and lack the diagnostic brown breast band of northern Sand Martins.

Habitat

Breeds in riverbanks, lakesides and sandpits. Usually seen over water.

Migration

All European birds winter in sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal eastwards, and also east Africa south to Mozambique.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Sand Martin is classed as Common: common species, including species that are certain or probable escapees from captivity when occurring in the British Isles. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Carlisle, Cumbria 02/06/2008	Carlisle, Cumbria 02/06/2008	Fraisthorpe, E Yorks 06/09/2009	Fraisthorpe, E Yorks 06/09/2009	Fraisthorpe, E Yorks 06/09/2009
Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincs 01/09/2009	Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk 27/08/2009	Dunwich Pools, Suffolk 23/08/2009	Dunwich Pools, Suffolk 23/08/2009	Dunwich Pools, Suffolk 23/08/2009

 View all pictures of Sand Martin

Sand Martin breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Albania
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Britain
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Moldova
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine

http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob9810.htm   BTO BirdFacts: Sand Martin	Edit this link
	Broken link
Recommend a new link

BirdGuides Ltd are not responsible for the content of external sites. If you find a broken link, please click the appropriate "Broken link" link above`.