One of the smallest but most energetic members of the swallow family. Despite its small size, it makes up for its size with speed, agility, and an extraordinary migratory lifestyle. Found across Europe, Asia, North America, and parts of Africa, the sand martin is a truly cosmopolitan bird, its fluttering flight and chattering calls a familiar sign of spring near rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
In appearance, the sand martin is modestly dressed compared to the flashy barn swallow. Its upperparts are a soft brown, while its underparts are white, neatly divided by a distinctive dark brown breast band. This simple yet elegant plumage allows it to blend into the sandy riverbanks where it nests. Its short, slightly forked tail and pointed wings give it excellent maneuverability, letting it twist and dart through the air as it hunts. Unlike some of its more flamboyant relatives, the Sand Martin is a study in understated grace.
One of the most remarkable aspects of sand martins is their communal nesting behavior. Each spring, they return to sandy cliffs, quarries, or riverbanks and dig burrows up to a meter deep with their tiny bills and feet. These burrows form massive colonies, sometimes with hundreds or even thousands of nests clustered together, creating a lively, bustling community.
Like all swallows, sand martins are insect-hunters of the sky, feeding almost exclusively on small, flying insects like mosquitoes, midges, and gnats. They hunt in flocks, swooping low over water or fields, often just skimming above the surface in their endless pursuit of food. Their rapid, fluttery flight makes them look restless, but this energy fuels their incredible long-distance migrations.
Distribution
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Anguilla
Antigua & Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia And Herz.
Botswana
Brazil
British Virgin Is.
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central Af. Rep.
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros
Congo-Brazzaville
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czechia
Côte D’ivoire
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Eritrea
Estonia
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Finland
France
French Guiana
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guadeloupe
Guatemala
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Korea
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Martinique
Mauritania
Mexico
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
North Korea
North Macedonia
Norway
Oman
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
Saint Lucia
Saint Pierre
Saint Vincent
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Spain
Sri Lanka
St. Kitts & Nevis
Sudan
Suriname
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Trinidad & Tobago
Tunisia
Turkmenistan
Turks & Caicos
Turkey
UAE
US Virgin Islands
Uganda
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
ZimbabweAnything we've missed?
Help us improve this page by suggesting edits. Glory never dies!
Suggest an editGet to know me
Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Flock
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
