Grey-throated Martin

The grey-throated martin is a small swallow about 12 cm long. It has dark grey-brown upperparts, a slightly paler rump, uniform pale grey-brown throat and breast, whitish belly and blackish wings and tail. The tail appears square or only shallowly forked, and the sexes look alike. Absence of a strong breast band helps distinguish it from the sand martin, while the grey throat separates it from paler regional swallows (BirdForum species account).

It ranges from Afghanistan and the Indian subcontinent through mainland Southeast Asia to southern China, Taiwan and the northern Philippines. Open farmland, grassland and savanna are used, especially near rivers, lakes and wetlands. Birds spend much of the day in flight catching insects above water or open ground, sometimes resting on wires, banks or cliffs. Nesting birds excavate tunnels in suitable earthen faces along rivers and other open sites, reflecting the riverbank origin of the genus name Riparia (eBird species account; Wikipedia, general species account).