Flycatchers to pipitsSwallows

Bank Swallow

Riparia riparia

The sand martin, also known as the collared sand martin or common sand martin, and in the Americas as the bank swallow, is a migratory passerine bird in the swallow family Hirundinidae. It has a wide range in summer, embracing practically the whole Holarctic area, from Europe, across Asia to the Pacific Ocean, and throughout North America. It winters in eastern and southern Africa, southern Asia, and South America.

Where it's been seen

Hotspots with reports in the last 30 days.

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Hornsby Bend (HOTE 037)Oct 4 · 2:02 PM
Roy G Guerrero Park—Cliff Overlook AreaSep 27 · 8:00 AM

Updated 1:26 PM

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Through the year

Migrant · usually Apr–Jun and Jul–Oct

Bank Swallow: share of complete checklists, 2016–2026

Show as table

Bank Swallow: share of complete checklists, 2016–2026
Week	Checklists reporting it
Jan 1–7	0%
Jan 8–14	0%
Jan 15–21	0%
Jan 22–end	0%
Feb 1–7	0%
Feb 8–14	0%
Feb 15–21	0%
Feb 22–end	<0.1%
Mar 1–7	<0.1%
Mar 8–14	<0.1%
Mar 15–21	<0.1%
Mar 22–end	0.1%
Apr 1–7	0.4%
Apr 8–14	0.4%
Apr 15–21	0.6%
Apr 22–end	0.6%
May 1–7	0.7%
May 8–14	0.8%
May 15–21	0.9%
May 22–end	0.6%
Jun 1–7	0.1%
Jun 8–14	0.5%
Jun 15–21	<0.1%
Jun 22–end	0.3%
Jul 1–7	0.4%
Jul 8–14	0.4%
Jul 15–21	0.3%
Jul 22–end	0.4%
Aug 1–7	0.7%
Aug 8–14	2%
Aug 15–21	2%
Aug 22–end	2%
Sep 1–7	4%
Sep 8–14	4%
Sep 15–21	3%
Sep 22–end	2%
Oct 1–7	0.5%
Oct 8–14	0.1%
Oct 15–21	<0.1%
Oct 22–end (now)	0%
Nov 1–7	0%
Nov 8–14	0%
Nov 15–21	0%
Nov 22–end	0%
Dec 1–7	0%
Dec 8–14	0%
Dec 15–21	0%
Dec 22–end	0%

This week: Not usually reported now
Peak: mid Sep · 4% of checklists
Earliest eBird record here: Sep 7, 1958
Checklists reporting it: 1,995 across 60 years
eBird high count: 250 (Sep 15, 1978)
First of 2026: Mar 29
All year, here vs Texas: 0.6% of checklists here, 0.6% statewide
Texas counties with records: 245 of 254 since 2016

Best hotspots for it

Share of complete checklists at each hotspot that reported it (2016–2026). Hotspots with fewer than 15 checklists are left out, and the order discounts small samples, so a hotspot with few checklists can sit below one with a lower share.

1Hornsby Bend (HOTE 037)10% of 3,769
2Jones Brothers Park4% of 23
3Austin's Colony Colorado River Park4% of 45
4Williamson Crk WTP (former)/Roy Kizer golf course (current)3% of 29
5Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area--Central & Eastern portion (Travis Co.)3% of 37
6Walnut Creek Hike and Bike Trail, Austin3% of 61
7Roy G. Guerrero Park—Secret Beach3% of 39
8Webberville Park (Little)2% of 53

From the eBird Basic Dataset (Sep-2026), complete checklists only.

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