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This species lives in close association with humans, and its insect-eating habits mean that it is tolerated by man. Do you know what it is?

British Birds - Martins, Swallows, Pipits and Wagtails

Meet the fast fliers of Britain. This quiz explores martins, swallows, pipits and wagtails, plus the clues birdwatchers use to tell them apart.

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Fascinating Fact:

Sand martins are often among the earliest of these summer visitors, and many reach the UK in March before leaving again around September.

In Specialist Nature, martins, swallows, pipits and wagtails are fun to learn because they mix speed, sound and subtle details. Martins and swallows are masters of the air, often feeding on insects while flying and nesting on buildings, cliffs, or riverbanks. Pipits and wagtails are usually seen on the ground or in low, bounding flight, where their walking style, tail movement, habitat choice, and call notes can be as helpful as their feathers. Careful watching, plus a note of the setting, often solves the trickiest ID moments.

Key Terms

Aerial feeder: A bird that catches insects while flying, often spending long periods on the wing.
Call: A short sound a bird makes, which can help with identification even when the bird is distant.
Plumage: The feathers of a bird, including their colours and patterns.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is the difference between a swallow and a house martin?

A swallow usually has a long, deeply forked tail and a reddish throat, and it often swoops low over fields and water. A house martin typically shows a bright white rump and a shorter tail, and it commonly nests under house eaves.

How do I identify a wagtail in the UK?

In the UK, wagtails are often recognised by their constant tail-wagging and their slim shape. They are usually found near water, farmland, or short grass, and they move with quick steps and short flights close to the ground.

Where do sand martins nest in Britain?

Sand martins nest in tunnels they dig into sandy banks, such as riverbanks, lakesides, gravel pits, or coastal cliffs. They often form colonies, with many nest holes close together in the same bank.

Try These Related Quizzes

To see a larger image, click on the picture.

1 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of Omar Runolfsson

House Martin

Pied Wagtail

Water Pipit

Rock Pipit

Group: Swallows and Martins
Binomial: Delichon urbicum
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Hirundinidae
Status: Breeding Summer Visitor
It spends much of its time on the wing collecting insect prey.
The bird's mud nest is usually sited below the eaves of buildings.
Mostly associated with man, found around towns and villages.

2 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of touch_of_frost

Water Pipit

Grey Wagtail

Yellow Wagtail

Meadow Pipit

Group: Wagtails and Pipits
Binomial: Motacilla flava flavissima
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Motacillidae
Status: Breeding Summer Visitor
The call is a characteristic high-pitched 'jeet'.
This insectivorous bird inhabits open country near water.
It nests in tussocks, laying 4-8 speckled eggs.

3 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of Marboline

Rock Pipit

Water Pipit

House Martin

Pied Wagtail

Group: Wagtails and Pipits
Binomial: Anthus spinoletta
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Motacillidae
Status: Winter Visitor
It is greyish-brown above and pale below with streaks on its breast.
It has a pale stripe over its eye, a slender bill and dark legs.
Mainly visits southern and eastern England.

4 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of Ejdzej

Meadow Pipit

Sand Martin

House Martin

Barn Swallow

Group: Swallows and Martins
Binomial: Riparia riparia
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Hirundinidae
Status: Breeding Summer Visitor
These birds are summer visitors and are among the earliest spring arrivals, often arriving in early March.
They start their return journey to southern Africa for the winter in August.

5 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of Myosotis Scorpioides

Rock Pipit

Water Pipit

Meadow Pipit

Pied Wagtail

Group: Wagtails and Pipits
Binomial: Anthus pratensis
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Motacillidae
Status: Resident Breeding Species
A small, brown, streaky bird
It is the commonest songbird in upland areas and its high, piping call is a familiar sound.
Will even come to suburban parks and playing fields.

6 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of www.geograph.org.uk/profile/13903

Sand Martin

Water Pipit

Pied Wagtail

Grey Wagtail

Group: Wagtails and Pipits
Binomial: Motacilla alba
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Motacillidae
Status: Breeding Summer Visitor
The most distinctive feature is its wagging tail - it never stops!
Can be seen dashing about over lawns or car parks in search of food.
Often gathers at dusk to form large roosts in city centres.

7 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of MPF

Rock Pipit

Tree Pipit

Pied Wagtail

Yellow Wagtail

Group: Wagtails and Pipits
Binomial: Anthus petrosus
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Motacillidae
Status: Resident Breeding Species
Some birds arrive here from Norway to spend the winter.
The song is a series of 'blocks' of repeated more or less shrill cheeping single or double notes; it ends on a trill.
This species is insectivorous.

8 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of Malene Thyssen

Meadow Pipit

Tree Pipit

Barn Swallow

House Martin

Group: Swallows and Martins
Binomial: Hirundo rustica
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Hirundinidae
Status: Breeding Summer Visitor
This species lives in close association with humans, and its insect-eating habits mean that it is tolerated by man; this acceptance was reinforced in the past by superstitions regarding the bird and its nest.

9 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of Kclama

Grey Wagtail

Barn Swallow

Pied Wagtail

Water Pipit

Group: Wagtails and Pipits
Binomial: Motacilla cinerea
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Motacillidae
Status: Resident Breeding Species
Their diet comprises insects, such as midges and ants, which they find alongside rivers, etc.
They will also take water snails and tadpoles from shallow water.
The young are fed by both parents.

10 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of J M Garg

Water Pipit

Grey Wagtail

Tree Pipit

Rock Pipit

Group: Wagtails and Pipits
Binomial: Anthus trivialis
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Motacillidae
Status: Breeding Summer Visitor
The song flight is unmistakable.
The bird rises a short distance up from a tree, and then parachutes down on stiff wings, the song becoming more drawn out towards the end.
The call is a strong 'spek'.