Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Order PASSERIFORMES - Family HIRUNDINIDAE - Subfamily Hirundininae

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1. Cool Facts
2. Description
3. Similar Species
4. Sound
5. Range
6. Habitat
7. Food
8. Behavior
9. Reproduction
10. Conservation Status
11. Other Names

A plain brown bird, the Northern Rough-winged Swallow is fairly common across the United States in summer. The species derives its name from the outer wing feathers, which have small hooks or points on their leading edges.

Cool Facts

• The function of the rough wing edge of the Northern Rough-winged Swallow is not known.
• The barbs on the primary feathers of the male Northern Rough-winged Swallow are distinctly hooked; those of the female are smaller and straighter. Running a finger from base to tip along the barbed wing edge yields a sensation similar to that of touching a rough file.

• The Greek genus name of the Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Stelgidopteryx, means "scraper wing;" the Latin species name, serripennis, means "saw feather."

• In one documented case, a Northern Rough-winged Swallow pair nested inside a Civil War cannon.

Description

• Size: 12-15 cm (5-6 in)
• Wingspan: 27-30 cm (11-12 in)
• Weight: 10-18 g (0.35-0.64 ounces)

• Small, long-winged stocky songbird.
• Small bill.
• Wings long and pointed.
• Uniformly dull brown head and upperparts.
• Pale brown throat.

• White belly and under tail.
• Square tail.
• Bill black.
• Eyes dark brown.
• Legs blackish.

Sex Differences

Sexes appear similar; in the hand, male can be identified from more pronounced hooks on the leading edge of the wing feathers.

Immature

Juvenile similar to adult, but with cinnamon wash on throat and indistinct cinnamon edges on brown feathers of upperparts, most noticeable on wings.

Similar Species

• Bank Swallow is smaller and has a distinct dark brown breastband separating a clean white throat and white lower breast.
• Juvenile Tree Swallow has brownish back and a dull chest, but it has a faint band across chest and a whitish throat.

Sound

Territorial male gives a series of short, relatively low-pitched, rising "brrt" or "jrrr" notes.

»listen to songs of this species

Range

Summer Range

Breeds from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including all of the contiguous United States.

Winter Range

Winters from southern California to southern Florida, and throughout Mexico and Central America. Small numbers winter on islands in the Caribbean.

Habitat

Breeds in a wide variety of open habitats, with openings in various vertical surfaces, including banks, gorges, and human structures.

Food

Flying insects.

Behavior

Foraging

Catches insects in flight, often close to ground or water surface.

Reproduction

Nest Type

Nests in burrows or cavities in various substrates. Probably uses burrows made by other species, but may dig its own nest.

Egg Description

White.

Clutch Size

4-8 eggs.

Condition at Hatching

Helpless with sparse down.

Conservation Status

Generally adapts well to environments affected by human activity. No specific conservation concern.

Other Names

Hirondelle à ailes hérissées (French)
Golondrina ala de sierra, Golondrina alirraspos, Norteña (Spanish)

Sources used to construct this page:

DeJong, M. J. 1996. Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis). In The Birds of North America, No. 234 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.