Stelgidopteryx serripennis
The Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) is a small, unassuming passerine bird, roughly 13-15 cm (5.1-5.9 in) long with a wingspan of 27-30 cm (10.6-11.8 in) and weighing 10-18 grams. Its plumage is uniformly dull, sooty brown above and dusky gray on the throat and breast, fading to a dingy whitish belly, lacking the iridescent sheens found in many other swallow species. A key, though not field-observable, distinguishing feature is the series of tiny, stiff recurved hook...
Found in open country near water bodies, particularly rivers, lakes, and coastal areas, where it can find suitable nesting banks or human-made structures. Prefers low to moderate elevations.
Exclusively insectivorous, primarily consuming a wide variety of flying insects such as flies, beetles, moths, wasps, and true bugs. Forages by catching prey in flight.
Northern Rough-winged Swallows are diurnal aerial insectivores, spending most of their active hours darting through the air catching insects and roosting communally in vegetation or structures at night. Their foraging strategy involves acrobatic, often low-level flight over water or open fields, ...
The Northern Rough-winged Swallow boasts an expansive range across the Americas. Its breeding grounds stretch throughout most of North America, from southern Canada (including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Maritimes) south through the United States (exclu...
Least Concern
- The 'rough' in their name refers to tiny, stiff hooklets on the leading edge of their outermost primary flight feather, which are thought to help them maneuver in flight, though they are not visible to the naked eye. - Unlike many other swallows, Northern Rough-winged Swallows lack iridescent p...