Bird Sighting
Sand Martin
Riparia riparia · Hirundinidae (Swallows and Martins)
21/03/2025 · Elton Hall Flash, Central area
- Date
- 21/03/2025
- Location
- Elton Hall Flash
- Recording area
- Central area
- Grid reference
- SJ 7246 5957
- Observer
- admin
Grid reference: SJ 7246 5957 53.13262, -2.41300 Open in OpenStreetMap
Sand Martin in our records
- Records
- 6
- First recorded
- 20/03/2021
- Last recorded
- 28/02/2026
- Places
- Elton Hall Flash, Watch Lane Flash
Other recent records
About the Sand Martin
The sand martin (Riparia riparia), also known as the collared sand martin or common sand martin, and in the Americas as the bank swallow, is a migratory passerine bird in the swallow family Hirundinidae. It has a wide range in summer, embracing practically the whole Holarctic area, from Europe, across Asia to the Pacific Ocean, and throughout North America. It winters in eastern and southern Africa, southern Asia, and South America.
- Conservation status (IUCN)
- Least Concern
- Wingspan
- 27 cm
Frank Vassen from Brussels, Belgium, CC BY 2.0 
Andreas Trepte, CC BY-SA 2.5 
Hatem Moushir, CC BY-SA 3.0 
Klaus Rassinger und Gerhard Cammerer, Museum Wiesbaden, CC BY-SA 3.0 
Axel Strauß, CC BY-SA 3.0 
Ejdzej, CC BY-SA 3.0 
CC BY-SA 3.0 
Foto: Jonn Leffmann, CC BY 3.0
Text adapted from the Wikipedia article “Sand martin” by its contributors (introduction, may be shortened), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, with the photographer and licence under each one.