Sand Martin Riparia riparia - Collecting nesting material. L 12cm. Typically seen hawking for insects over water, sometimes even picking them off surface. Sexes are similar. Adult has sandy brown upperparts and mainly white underparts with brown breast band. Tail is short and forked. Juvenile is similar but has pale margins to back feathers. Voice Utters range of rasping twitters. Status Widespread summer visitor. Nests colonially, excavating burrows in sandy banks beside rivers and sand and gravel quarries.
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