Sand Martin
Riparia riparia
Estuaries. Small martin; above dark brown; below white with narrow brown chest-band; tail with shallow fork.
LC
Not Endemic
Description
Uncommon to locally common summer visitor. A small martin differing from the larger [Banded Martin] in smaller size, all-dark underwings and lack of a white eyebrow. Shape, size and general coloration make confusion more likely with [Brown-throated Martin], alongside which it often occurs in mixed flocks. Flocks usually occur near large inland waters or river estuaries and other eastern coastal localities, but small numbers or singletons may occur anywhere with flockss of other swallows.
Quick Facts
Size
12 cm - S
Names
A: Europese Oewerswael
Z: inhlolamfula
Ss: Lekabelane-La-Mangope
G: Europäische Uferschwalbe
Bird Family
The name martin is loosely applied to certain close relatives of swallows, particularly species of the genus *Riparia* and their allies. Generally, with the exception of the House Martin, martins have brown plumage and square tails, and while some martins build typical swallow-type mud nests, most breed in holes in cliffs or banks.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
Flocks usually occur near large inland waters or river estuaries and other eastern coastal localities, but small numbers or singletons may occur anywhere with 'flocks's of other swallows.
