Banded Martin (Neophedina cincta)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Banded Martin

Neophedina cincta (Boddaert, 1783)

15–17 cmLength23 gWeight

The banded martin or banded sand martin (Neophedina cincta) is a small passerine bird in the swallow family Hirundinidae that is endemic to Africa.

Busiest months: November · Most records: South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Banded Martin has been recorded at 290 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 22 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Nairobi NPKenya695 records
  2. Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Ngorongoro CraterTanzania427 records
  3. Rietvlei NRSouth Africa399 records
More places
  1. Maasai Mara NR – Mara TriangleKenya240 records
  2. Amboseli NPKenya162 records
  3. Wakkerstroom areaSouth Africa158 records
  4. West Coast NPSouth Africa158 records
  5. Macaneta – Wetland, dune forests and coastMozambique155 records
  6. Maasai Mara NRKenya155 records
  7. Okavango Delta – Xaro LodgeBotswana149 records

Countries and regions with the most records

South AfricaKenyaTanzaniaBotswanaUgandaNamibiaMozambiqueZambia

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The banded martin or banded sand martin (Neophedina cincta) is a small passerine bird in the swallow family Hirundinidae that is endemic to Africa. It is the only species placed in the genus Neophedina.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Banded Martin?

The Banded Martin is about 15–17 cm long and weighs around 23 g.

Where does the Banded Martin live?

Its breeding range: Africa: widespread. It is most often recorded in South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania.

When is the best time to see the Banded Martin?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in November (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Banded Martin endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Banded Martin as Least Concern.

What does the Banded Martin eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Banded Martin in?

It belongs to the family Swallows, Martins (Hirundinidae), order Passerines (Passeriformes).

At a glance

Length
15–17 cm
Weight
23 g
Habitat
Grassland
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Feeds in the air
Migration
Partial migrant
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
131 mm
Tail
64 mm
Bill
14 mm
Tarsus
13 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Africa: widespread

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Family
Swallows, Martins Hirundinidae
Genus
Neophedina

More from the family Swallows, Martins

African River MartinAfrican River MartinPseudochelidon eurystominaWhite-eyed River MartinWhite-eyed River MartinPseudochelidon sirintaraeSquare-tailed Saw-wingSquare-tailed Saw-wingPsalidoprocne nitensWhite-headed Saw-wingWhite-headed Saw-wingPsalidoprocne albicepsMountain Saw-wingMountain Saw-wingPsalidoprocne fuliginosaBlack Saw-wingBlack Saw-wingPsalidoprocne pristopteraFanti Saw-wingFanti Saw-wingPsalidoprocne obscuraGrey-rumped SwallowGrey-rumped SwallowPseudhirundo griseopygaWhite-backed SwallowWhite-backed SwallowCheramoeca leucosternaMascarene MartinMascarene MartinPhedina borbonica
Banded Martin

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by WildNothos. ↗

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