How to Identify a Bank Swallow

By eHow Hobbies, Games & Toys Editor

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

Binoculars
Bird guide book

Step 1:
Determine the bird's size. Smallest of all swallows, bank swallows are 5 to 6 inches from head to tail, with a long wingspan of 10 to 11 inches.
Step 2:
Identify the coloring using binoculars. A bank swallow's body has a brown top and white chest, with a dark band running across the upper middle chest.
Step 3:
Look for distinct features on its capped head. It has dark brown eyes, a dark short bill, a brown crown, brown forehead and nape, and a white band that curls under its throat.
Step 4:
Find its other distinguishing physical features, such as short brown legs, a brown forked tail and long pointed wings. To confirm, look at a bird guide book such as "National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Fifth Edition."
Step 5:
Distinguish its flight habits. The bank swallow flies with quick, erratic fluttering and rapid, shallow wing beats. They typically fly in flocks, particularly when feeding on flying insects.
Step 6:
Listen for this songbird's call, which is a harsh, dry and steady chattering. A number of websites such at Whatbird include audio files of the bird's call.

Tips & Warnings

There's no difference in appearance between the male and female bank swallow.
The bank swallow is often confused with the northern rough-winged swallow, which lacks the forked tail and dark breast band of the bank swallow.
The bank swallow is called the sand martin in other parts of the world. Its scientific name is riparia riparia, from a Latin word meaning "riverbank."
Bank swallows live in most of North America, Europe and Asia. They migrate to the tropics in winter.

Resources

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