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Sand martin

Birds

The sand martin is a small migratory passerine bird in the swallow family Hirundinidae, also called the collared sand martin or common sand martin in Europe and the bank swallow in the Americas. Carl Linnaeus first described it in 1758 as Hirundo riparia, with the species name coming from the Latin ripa, meaning riverbank. It is a small bird, 12 to 13 centimeters long and weighing 11 to 16 grams, with a brown back, white underside and a narrow brown breast band that distinguish it from similar swallows in combination with its small size and quick jerky flight. The species breeds across nearly the whole Holarctic region, from Europe across Asia to the Pacific and throughout North America, and winters in eastern and southern Africa, southern Asia and South America. Three or four weakly differentiated subspecies are recognized. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, though its populations are decreasing globally. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts
Classification
Diet
Insectivore 1
Population Trend
Decreasing 2
System (Realm)
Freshwater 3
Relationship to People
Natural Pest Control 4
Living or Extinct
Yes 3
Comparison
NatureServe Rank
G5 Secure 5
CITES Appendix
Not Listed 4
Scientific Name
Riparia riparia 3
Conservation Status
Least Concern 2
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Hirundinidae, Taxa
Source Sand martin (Wikidata)

In Biome

Lake, Biomes
Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Riparia riparia
River, Biomes
Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Riparia riparia
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Afghanistan

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Albania

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Andorra

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Argentina

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Armenia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Austria

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Azerbaijan

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Bangladesh

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Belarus

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Belgium

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Bhutan

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Bolivia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Brunei

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Bulgaria

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Canada

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Chile

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

China

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Colombia

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Cyprus

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Denmark

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Ecuador

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Germany

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North America

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Switzerland

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United Arab Emirates

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sources
1. EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014)
2. Sand martin (Wikipedia)
  • Ecology section
    Globally, it is not rare and classified as a species of least concern (but noted to be decreasing) by the IUCN.
  • Ecology section
    Globally, it is not rare and classified as a species of least concern (but noted to be decreasing) by the IUCN. It does have some national and local protections, as certain populations have declined or face threats from habitat loss and fragmentation.
View the Source
3. Sand martin (Wikidata)
Wikidata
  • Wikidata Q25909 (P225 taxon name)
  • Statements section, habitat (P2974): Freshwater
    Wikidata habitat statement (P2974) resolves to a freshwater habitat type.
  • Statements section, conservation status (P141)
    IUCN Red List conservation status (Wikidata property P141): least concern.
  • Child Taxon Of: Hirundinidae, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
View the Source
4. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Riparia riparia
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
  • Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
    bank swallows can help to control populations of pest insects, such as mosquitoes and agricultural pests.
  • Conservation Status: CITES
    CITES No special status
  • In Biome: Lake, Habitat Regions, biome: lakes and ponds
    lakes and ponds
  • In Biome: River, Habitat Regions, biome: rivers and streams
    rivers and streams
View the Source
5. NatureServe Explorer: Riparia riparia
NatureServe ExplorerGlobal rank (roundedGRank)
Quote, Global rank (roundedGRank)
"roundedGRank": "G5"
View the Source
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