It has been found in the nests of birds, notably the Sand Martin. The species was formerly considered a subspecies of the sand martin. The flight is variously described as heavy, or like that of a sand martin. Coltsfoot is particularly common and sand martin colonies have become established in places. The fast flight of the brown-throated sand martin also makes identification more difficult. Other wildlife species include the otter, kingfisher, sand martin, dipper, curlew and snipe. The sand martin departs early, at any rate from its more northerly haunts. They resemble the sand martin, but are darker below, and lack a breast band.