Photo: 尹若宇 (oscaryin) / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Grey-throated Martin
Riparia chinensis
Grey-throated Martin (Riparia chinensis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 5 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Grey-throated Martin (Riparia chinensis) is a member of the Hirundinidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 9.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Hirundinidae Swallows, Martins
- Genus Riparia
- Species chinensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 9.8 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Hirundinidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Grey-throated Martin is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Grey-throated Martin is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Grey-throated Martin (Riparia chinensis) is a member of the Hirundinidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR c, e, se Asia.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 9.8 g, with a wing length of about 9 cm and a tail of around 4.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Grey-throated Martin?
The Grey-throated Martin is a very small bird that weighs around 9.8 g.
Where does the Grey-throated Martin live?
The Grey-throated Martin is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR c, e, se Asia, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Grey-throated Martin belong to?
The Grey-throated Martin (Riparia chinensis) belongs to the Hirundinidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Grey-throated Martin eat?
The Grey-throated Martin is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Grey-throated Martin migrate?
The Grey-throated Martin is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Grey-throated Martin endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Grey-throated Martin make?
1 real field recording of the Grey-throated Martin — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Grey-throated Martin's range?
The Grey-throated Martin has a mapped global range of about 3.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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