Bank Swallow
Bank Swallow
40
20 hours ago
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The Sand Martin, also known as Bank Swallow in North America, is a small, agile swallow with plain brown upperparts and clean white underparts, distinguished by a narrow brown breast band. It's a highly social bird, often nesting in large colonies.
Where to spot
Widespread across Eurasia and North America, typically found near water bodies like rivers, lakes, and coasts, where suitable sandy or earthy banks for nesting are present. Migrates to Africa and South America for winter.
How to spot
Look for its small size, rapid, jerky flight, and distinctive brown upperparts with a contrasting white throat and belly, separated by a sharp brown breast band. Observe them near sandy cliffs or riverbanks where they often nest in colonies.
When to spot
Best observed during the breeding season from spring to late summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Migratory flocks can be seen passing through in spring and autumn. Absent during winter in most breeding areas.
Where to spot
Widespread across Eurasia and North America, typically found near water bodies like rivers, lakes, and coasts, where suitable sandy or earthy banks for nesting are present. Migrates to Africa and South America for winter.
How to spot
Look for its small size, rapid, jerky flight, and distinctive brown upperparts with a contrasting white throat and belly, separated by a sharp brown breast band. Observe them near sandy cliffs or riverbanks where they often nest in colonies.
When to spot
Best observed during the breeding season from spring to late summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Migratory flocks can be seen passing through in spring and autumn. Absent during winter in most breeding areas.
Credits:
Door Ken Billington - Eigen werk, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12341689
Credits:
By Afsarnayakkan - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=157751320
Sand Martins dig their own nest tunnels into vertical sand or earth banks, sometimes creating tunnels up to a meter deep. Colonies can number in the thousands of pairs.
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Spotted
- Recently spotted
- 580 (Seen in the last 3 months)
- Last spotted
- 20 hours ago
Monthly observations
15 observations
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