>> GENERAL >>>>>
– small songbird, slightly smaller than Barn Swallow
– diurnal migrant, possibly nocturnal as well
– migrates singly or in small very loose flocks; at roosts several hundreds to thousands may flock
– usually not very vocal during migration
>> VISUAL ID >>>>>
Sand Martin Riparia r. riparia, 1CY
BIF3099, 01/08/2013, Delitzsch, Germany, Mathias Putze
– only weakly forked, fairly short tail
– if seen well, 1CY before moult can be aged by pale fringes to many feathers of the upperside (e.g. uppertail coverts)
Sand Martin Riparia r. riparia, 1CY
BIF3100, 01/08/2013, Delitzsch, Germany, Mathias Putze
– underside white with diagnostic grey brown collar
– uniformly dark underwing
Sand Martin Riparia r. riparia, 1CY
BIF3101, 01/08/2013, Delitzsch, Germany, Mathias Putze
– dusky cheeks
Sand Martin Riparia r. riparia, AD
BIF3102, 01/08/2013, Delitzsch, Germany, Mathias Putze
– upperside grey brown rather than blackish (cf. Common House Martin)
– in good light wings often slightly darker than back
– AD in late summer appear worn
Sand Martin Riparia r. riparia, AD
BIF3103, 01/08/2013, Delitzsch, Germany, Mathias Putze
Sand Martin Riparia r. riparia, AD
BIF3104, 01/08/2013, Delitzsch, Germany, Mathias Putze
– note full crop of a feeding AD
Sand Martin Riparia r. riparia, AD
BIF3105, 01/08/2013, Delitzsch, Germany, Mathias Putze
Sand Martin Riparia r. riparia, AD
BIF3106, 30/05/2019, Börgerende, Germany, Roland Neumann
Sand Martin Riparia r. riparia
BIF3106, 30/05/2019, Zingst, Germany, Roland Neumann
– at greater distance apart from colouration the dark collar is the best ID feature
>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>
– not very vocal during migration
– harsh, polyphonic flight call with dense inharmonic partials
– each call is a phrase of four variable upslurs uttered singly or as doublet
– main energy between 2 and 7,8kHz
– overview –
– detail –
Sand Martin Riparia r. riparia, call in flight
BIF3108, 01/08/2013, Seelhausener See, Germany, Patrick Franke
Sand Martin Riparia r. riparia, call in flight
BIF3109, 13/08/2013, Seelhausener See, Germany, Patrick Franke
Sand Martin Riparia r. riparia, call in flight
BIF3110, 01/08/2013, Seelhausener See, Germany, Patrick Franke
Sand Martin Riparia r. riparia, call in flight
BIF3111, 01/08/2013, Seelhausener See, Germany, Patrick Franke
>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>
Eurasian Crag Martin (v)
Brown-throated Martin (v)
Pale Crag Martin (v)
Barn Swallow (v)
Common House Martin (v)
Red-rumped Swallow (v)
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