sand martin

Thân thiện

A sand martin flies out from its nest in a sandy riverbank.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small migratory bird of the swallow family: The "sand martin" is a species of bird, specifically a type of swallow, characterized by its brown upperparts, white underparts with a distinctive brown band across the chest, and a short, forked tail.
   • A bird that nests in burrows: It is known for nesting in colonies, excavating tunnels in sandy or earthy banks, often near water.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • We watched a flock of sand martins skimming over the river to catch insects.
  • The erosion of the riverbank has destroyed many sand martin nesting sites.

Advanced Usage

• Ecological Indicator: Sand martins are sometimes studied as indicators of healthy riverbank ecosystems due to their specific nesting requirements.
  • The return of sand martins to the quarry is a positive sign for the local environment.

Variants and Related Words

• Bank swallow: This is the common North American name for the same species ().
  • In my field guide, the sand martin is listed as the bank swallow.

Synonyms

• Bank swallow: The primary synonym, especially in American English.
• Riparia riparia: The scientific (Latin) name for the species.

Related Phrases

• Sand martin colony: Refers to a group of these birds nesting together in a bank.
  • A large sand martin colony has established itself in the old sand pit.

Học thuật

Noun

1. swallow of the northern hemisphere that nests in tunnels dug in clay or sand banks

Từ đồng nghĩa

• bank martin
• bank swallow
• Riparia riparia