Bank Swallow

Bank Swallow

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

The Bank Swallow nests in colonies in streamside banks across much of North America. It can also be found across most of Europe and Asia.

Description

• Small slender songbird.
• White underneath and brown on top.
• Dark band across chest, extending down middle of chest.
• Small bill.
• Long wings.

• Size: 12-14 cm (5-6 in)
• Wingspan: 25-29 cm (10-11 in)
• Weight: 10-19 g (0.35-0.67 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes look alike.

Sound

Song is a harsh twittering

Conservation Status

Populations may be declining in some areas.

Other Names

Hirondelle de rivage (French)
Golondrina ribereña, Golondrina Barranquera (Spanish)
Sand Martin (British) (English)

Cool Facts

• A Bank Swallow colony may range from 10 nests to nearly 2,000.

• The male Bank Swallow often pursues females other than its mate at the colony and attempts to mate with them. The male is most likely to chase a female in her fertile period.

Sources used to construct this page:

Garrison, B. A. 1999. Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia). In The Birds of North America, No. 414 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.