Plain Martin

Latin Name:

Riparia paludicola

Category:

Size:

12cm

Description:

Sexes alike. Long wings and slight tail-fork. Grey-brown above, slightly darker on crown; dark brown wings and tail; dull grey below, whiter towards abdomen. A gregarious species, always in flocks, flying around sand-banks along water courses; individual birds occasionally stray far and high; hawks small insects in flight; flocks perch on telegraph wires.

Habitat:

vicinity of water, sandbanks, sandy cliffsides.

Distribution:

NW and N India, from outer Himalaya, south at least to line from vicinity of Mumbai-Nasik to C Orissa; moves considerably locally.