Northern Rough-Winged Swallow
Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Aves › Passeriformes › Hirundinidae › Stelgidopteryx
Conservation status: least_concern
The northern rough-winged swallow is a small, migratory swallow. It is very similar to the southern rough-winged swallow, Stelgidopteryx ruficollis.
How To Identify
It possesses a sleek, aerodynamic body and vibrant plumage often featuring iridescent blues or browns. A distinctive feature is the relatively long tail that aids in sharp aerial turns.
Habitat
It typically inhabits open areas near water bodies, including rivers, streams, lakes, and marshes, often nesting in burrows along sandy or clay banks.
Behaviour
Unlike most North American swallows, Northern Rough-winged Swallows often excavate their own nesting burrows in earthen banks rather than using tree cavities or existing holes.
Did You Know?
Northern Rough-winged Swallows have tiny hook-like barbs on their flight feathers that produce a distinctive buzzing sound during flight, which may serve to startle insects or communicate with other swallows. These unique feather modifications are rare among North American birds.
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