Sand Martin
Riparia riparia
Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Worldwide.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) is a member of the Hirundinidae family found in Africa, Central America & Caribbean and Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 12.7 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 riparia
Where it lives
Worldwide widespread
Quick facts
- Weight
- 12.7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Hirundinidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Sand Martin is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of rivers and riverside habitats, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Sand Martin is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) is a species of bird in the Hirundinidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa, Central America & Caribbean and Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers Worldwide widespread.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 12.7 g, with a wing length of about 10.2 cm and a tail of around 4.7 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 36.6 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Sand Martin?
The Sand Martin is a very small bird that weighs around 12.7 g.
Where does the Sand Martin live?
The Sand Martin is found across Africa, Central America & Caribbean and Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering Worldwide widespread, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Sand Martin belong to?
The Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) belongs to the Hirundinidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Sand Martin eat?
The Sand Martin is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Sand Martin migrate?
The Sand Martin is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Sand 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 Sand Martin make?
1 real field recording of the Sand Martin — including its begging call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Sand Martin's range?
The Sand Martin has a mapped global range of about 36.6 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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