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Bank Swallow

Riparia ripariaOrder: PASSERIFORMES Family: Swallows (Hirundinidae)
Codes: Common Name: BANS Scientific Name: RIPRIP ITIS Taxonomic No.: 178436
Least Concern
 
Bank Swallow
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Jelly Jar Jelly Feeder
The orange "blossum" replaces the lid of a jelly jar.
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Hex shaped nectar feeds several Orioles. Nectar kept in fridge.
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Lovely copper umbrella keeps fruit cool and looks great.

Overview

Bank Swallow: Small swallow with brown upperparts, and a brown breast band seperating white underparts from white throat and chin. Tail is notched. Brown legs, feet. The smallest North American swallow. Swift, erratic flight, alternating several shallow, rapid wing beats with short to long glides.

Range and Habitat

Bank Swallow: Breed from Alaska across northern Canada south to California, Texas, and Virginia. Spends winters in the tropics and the Old World. Preferred habitats include riverbanks, creeks, seashores, and lakes.

Topo Map: Swallow-like Body


Listen to Call

Voice Text

"pret", "trit-trit"

Interesting Facts

 The scientific name of the Bank Swallow, Riparia, means “riverbank.”

 This species originally nested in the steep, sandy banks of rivers but have adapted to using many different man-made excavations.

 Most pairs in breeding colonies lay their eggs at the same time so that they will be feeding nestlings at the same time. This means there will be a large number of adults searching for swarms of insects, which makes it more likely they will find them.

 A group of bank swallows are known collectively as a "foreclosure" of swallows.


Bird Term Glossary



Author

Gary Owen Dick

Artist

Yury Lisyak

Splitbar
Range Map for Bank Swallow

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Family Swallow (Hirundinidae)_blue
Species Riparia riparia
Length4.75 Inches
Wingspan10.5 Inches

Bank Swallow

Bank Swallow: Small swallow with brown upperparts, and a brown breast band seperating white underparts from white throat and chin. Tail is notched. Brown legs, feet. The smallest North American swallow. Swift, erratic flight, alternating several shallow, rapid wing beats with short to long glides.

● Song: "pret", "trit-trit"

● Foraging & Feeding: Bank Swallow: Feeds mostly on flying insects such as termites, treehoppers, leafhoppers, beetles, moths, and flies that it captures on the wing. Occasionally preys upon spiders or ants if there is a scarcity of aerial prey; forages singly or in flocks.

● Breeding & nesting: Bank Swallow: Three to seven white eggs are laid in a grass and feather nest in a chamber at the end of a deep tunnel, usually near the top of a steep bank. Nests in colonies; nesting banks may sometimes appear riddled with holes. Incubation ranges from 14 to 16 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: Bank Swallow: Northern Rough-winged and immature Tree swallows are generally larger and lack dark breast band.

Flight Pattern

Swift erratic fluttering flight on shallow wing beats.
Bank Swallow Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Bank Swallow: Breed from Alaska across northern Canada south to California, Texas, and Virginia. Spends winters in the tropics and the Old World. Preferred habitats include riverbanks, creeks, seashores, and lakes.
BreedingMonogamous, Colonial
PopulationWidespread
MigrationMigratory
Weight0.5 Ounces
Swallow-like BodyX
UnderpartsX
Belly, undertail coverts, chest, flanks, and foreneck.
UpperpartsX
Back, rump, hindneck, wings, and crown.
BreastX
The upper front part of a bird.
ChinX
The area of the face just below the bill.
4 and 6 letter alpha codesX

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

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ITIS CodesX

The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) was established in the mid-1990�s as a cooperative project among several federal agencies to improve and expand upon taxonomic data (known as the NODC Taxonomic Code) maintained by the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

To find the ITIS page for a bird species go to the ITIS web site advanced search and report page at http://www.itis.gov/advanced_search.html. You can enter the TSN or the common name of the bird. It will return the ITIS page for that bird. Another way to obtain the ITIS page is to use the Google search engine. Enter the string ITIS followed by the taxonomic ID, for example "ITIS 178041" will return the page for the Allen's Hummingbird.

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Parts of a Standing birdX
Head Feathers and MarkingsX
Parts of a Flying birdX