Sand Martin Life Cycle: Nest Building To Fledging (and everything in between)
Sand Martins are the smallest members of the Swallow family to visit the UK. They have brown upperparts, dark, triangular wings, a brown chest band, pale underparts and a short, notched brown tail.
Sand Martins are also one of the earliest spring visitors to our shores arriving as early as March. They leave the UK to migrate to their African winter homes from around September with all Sand Martins gone by October.
In this article we’ll look at the life cycle of the Sand Martin from nesting to fledging. Keep reading to find out more.
Table of Contents
How Long Does A Sand Martin Live?
The average lifespan of a Sand Martin is around 2 years. There have been individuals that have survived for far longer than the average with one bird reaching the age of 7 years and 9 months according to ring records.
How Fast Can A Sand Martin Fly?
Sand Martins are relatively fast birds and can reach speeds of up to 31 mph (50 km/h) or 14 metres per second. These small birds fly from their winter homes in Africa to the UK and almost all of Europe every spring and then make the return journey every autumn.
They rely on wind speed and thermal air currents to assist in their long-distance flights.
Are Sand Martins Aggressive?
Sand Martins are generally peaceful birds that nest in huge colonies and usually get on with each other. Having said that, they can become aggressive when it comes to defending their nest sites or their mate.
They engage in pretty serious fights and will grab their opponent by the feet making both birds fall to the floor. They then engage in pecking each other until one will back away.
What Is A Sand Martin’s Habitat?
The main habitat of the Sand Martin is in the air and they spend much of their time flying over water searching for food. They will typically fly at around 50 ft (15 metres) above the surface of the water or above ground hunting their main food source, insects.
They nest in large colonies where they dig out burrows in vertical earth banks generally alongside rivers but they will also nest in sand or gravel quarries.
How Long Does It Take For A Sand Martin To Build A Nest?
Depending on the type of earth the burrow is excavated in, it will take around 4 to 7 days to build the nest. Sand Martins will dig burrows that are anywhere between 1.5 to 3 feet (0.5 to 1 metre) deep.
The pair will then dig a chamber at the far end of the burrow into which they construct a small platform of plant material and feathers.
Eggs
Once they are satisfied with their burrow and nest, the pair will move on to the next stage in the reproductive cycle, the eggs.
When Do Sand Martins Lay Eggs?
Sand Martins typically arrive back in the UK around March and then go on to build a nest after digging out a burrow. The female will lay her eggs around late April or early June.
They will often go on to raise a second brood but they will almost always move to a new nesting site to prevent cave ins and reduce the risk of nest parasites.
How Many Eggs Does A Sand Martin Lay?
Sand Martins can lay anywhere between 2 to 7 eggs but they will usually lay 4 to 5 eggs per brood. The number of eggs laid will often depend on the health of the female with healthier birds laying more eggs.
What Do Sand Martin Eggs Look Like?
Sand Martin eggs are small, oval shaped and white in colour. They are approximately 18 x 13 mm in size and weigh around 1.4 grams. Both parents will roost in their burrow until their chicks are around 2 weeks old.
The parents will then sleep in burrows nearby or on branches of trees, shrubs or other plants.
How Long Do Sand Martin Eggs Take To Hatch?
The eggs are incubated by both parents and hatch after around 14 to 15 days. Each parent takes turns either sitting on the eggs or hunting after food.
Chicks
Once the eggs hatch we move on to the next stage of development, the chicks.
How Many Chicks Does A Sand Martin Have?
In an ideal world, the number of chicks produced should correspond to the number of eggs laid. However, the survival rate of eggs to chicks is dependent on a number of factors including weather conditions, predation, food availability and local environmental disturbances.
It is estimated that around 70 to 80% of eggs hatch successfully. With a chick survival rate of around 60 to 75% surviving to the fledgling stage.
This means that from a typical clutch of around 4 to 5 eggs, an average of 2 to 4 chicks might survive to fledge if conditions are favourable.
When Do Sand Martin Chicks Open Their Eyes?
Chicks typically open their eyes around 6 to 8 days after hatching. These altricial chicks are naked and blind when they hatch and rely on their parents for everything.
The parents provide food for the growing chicks, and regulate their temperature using their own body heat.
When Do Sand Martin Chicks Fledge?
As they grow and develop, the chicks become more active and start to develop feathers. They will typically fledge around 18 to 22 days after hatching.
SEE ALSO: Smew Diet and Size: Feeding Habits, Predators, and Measurements
Frequently Asked Questions
The average lifespan of a sand martin is around 2 years. However there have been individual birds that have survived for more than 7 years according to ring records.
The eggs of the Sand Martin are small, white and oval shaped. They are around 18 x 13 mm in size and weigh around 1.4 grams.
Sand Martins are relatively fast birds and can reach speeds of up to 31 mph (50 km/h) or 14 metres per second.
