Sand Martin

This species is defined as a rarity. Please submit your records of this species via our record submission page.

Scientific Name: Riparia riparia
Malay Name: Layang-layang Perang Belang Biasa
Chinese Name: 崖沙燕
Alternative Name(s): Common Sand Martin

Range:
Found throughout the Holarctic (which encompasses majority of habitats found throughout the northern continents of the world) and winters to South America, sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian subcontinent, southern China and Southeast Asia

Taxonomy:
Polytypic. Subspecies are: riparia, taczanowskii, ijimae, shelleyi.

Local Subspecies: ijimae

Size: 11.5-13 cm

Identification:
Adult resembles Barn Swallow and Asian House Martin but has all brown upperparts, contrasting whitish underparts with broad brown breast-band and shallow forked tail. Juvenile resembles adult but has less distinct breast-band.

Similar looking species: Barn Swallow, Asian House Martin

Habitat: Lakes, rivers, reservoirs and coastal areas.

Behaviour/Ecology:

Local Status: Rare migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2019)

Featured reports: Mar 2022

Sand Martin at Neo Tiew Harvest Lane. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Sand Martin at Neo Tiew Harvest Lane. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Sand Martin at Neo Tiew Harvest Lane. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Sand Martin at Neo Tiew Harvest Lane. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Sand Martin at Sg Serangoon. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Sand Martin at Seletar Dam. Photo Credit: Con Foley
Sand Martin at Seletar Dam. Photo Credit: Con Foley
External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Bank Swallow)
References:
BirdLife International. (2019). Riparia riparia. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T103815961A155536007.en. Accessed on 19 December 2021
Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.