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Bird name:

Bank Swallow

Riparia ripariaOrder: PASSERIFORMES Family: Swallows (Hirundinidae)

Codes: Common Name: BANS Scientific Name: RIPRIP ITIS Taxonomic No.: 178436

Head

Topo Map: Swallow-like Head

Bill Shape: All-purpose
Eye Color: Light brown in juveniles; Dark brown in adults.
Head Pattern: Capped, Plain, Special (unique patterns or features)
Crown Color: Brown
Forehead Color: Brown
Nape Color: Brown
Throat Color: White
Cere color: No Data

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Body

Topo Map: Swallow-like Body

Length Range: 12 cm (4.75 in)
Weight: 14 g (0.5 oz)
Size: Size 1. Very Small (3 - 5 in)
Color: White, Brown
Underparts: White with brown breast band.
Upperparts: Brown
Back Pattern: Solid
Belly Pattern: Solid
Breast Pattern: No Data

Flight

Topo Map: Swallow-like Flight

Flight Pattern: Swift erratic fluttering flight on shallow wing beats.
Wingspan Range: 25-28 cm (10-11 in)
Wing Shape: Pointed-Wings
Tail Shape: Forked Tail
Tail Pattern: Solid
Upper Tail: Brown
Under Tail: Brown
Leg Color: Brown

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

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.

● 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 Head

Swallow-like Body

Swallow-like Flight

4 and 6 letter alpha codes

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.

Field Guide to Birds of North America

Bank Swallow

Head

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Body

Flight

Bank Swallow

Flight Pattern