Sand Martin photographs from India

The distribution and occurence of different taxa of Sand Martin in the Indian subcontinent is poorly known (Rasmussen & Anderton 2005). There is a breeding population of subspecies Riparia diluta indica in northern Pakistan and adjacent parts of India. In addition, there are wintering birds of several taxa.

Many of the birds below look quite a lot like the nominate subspecies of Sand Martin, with a clear-cut brown breast-band and sharply defined brown cheek-patch contrasting against the white throat. 

(1.) 19 December 2008 Dasada, Gujarat, India

(2.) 19 December 2008 Dasada, Gujarat, India

(3.) 19 December 2008 Dasada, Gujarat, India

(4.) 19 December 2008 Dasada, Gujarat, India. This bird seems to be in an advanced primary moult with P8 almost full-grown and P9 still old.

(5.) 17 Dec 2008 Naliya, Gujarat, India. This bird seems to have less well-defined cheek patch. It also seems to have incomplete moult of the primaries.

(6.) 17 Dec 2008 Naliya, Gujarat, India. This bird also has suspended its primary moult.

(7.) 3 Apr 2010. Kaziranga, Assam. A bird from the North-East.

(8.) 3 Apr 2010. Kaziranga, Assam.