The brown-throated martin or brown-throated sand martin is a small passerine bird in the swallow family, Hirundinidae, that is widely distributed across Africa. It was formerly regarded as conspecific with the grey-throated martin and the Madagascar martin.
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs widely along rivers, lakes, reservoirs, floodplains, and wetlands, extending into adjacent savannas, farmland, and open country. It favors exposed sandy or loamy banks suitable for burrowing and will use man-made embankments and quarries. The species avoids dense closed-canopy forest and extremely arid desert interiors but can be common around human-modified landscapes near water. Colonies are often situated where seasonal water levels expose fresh cutbanks.
Altitude Range
0–3000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The brown-throated martin, also called the brown-throated sand martin, is a small swallow widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa. It nests colonially in burrows excavated into riverbanks and sand cliffs, often near freshwater. It was formerly treated as conspecific with the grey-throated martin and the Madagascar martin. Agile and low-flying, it spends much of the day hawking insects over water and open ground.
A clutch of Riparia paludicola
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
fast, agile low-level flight with short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically nests in colonies, excavating horizontal tunnels into sand or earth banks. Pairs are monogamous within a breeding season, sharing excavation and incubation duties. Outside breeding, it often forms loose flocks and may roost communally near water.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
A soft, twittering series of trills and chitters delivered in flight and at colony sites. Calls include dry buzzy notes and quiet rattles, generally subdued compared to many other swallows.
Plumage
Plain brown upperparts with a slightly paler rump; underparts whitish to off-white with a brown throat and diffuse dusky breast band.
Diet
Feeds almost exclusively on small flying insects such as midges, mosquitoes, flying ants, and beetles. It catches prey on the wing, typically a few meters above water or low over open ground. During hatches of aquatic insects it concentrates along shorelines and over slow-moving water. It may follow livestock or tractors to take insects flushed from vegetation.
Preferred Environment
Most often forages over rivers, lakes, dams, and marsh edges, as well as nearby grassland and agricultural fields. Frequently uses perches such as reeds, wires, and exposed branches near water between foraging bouts.
