Northern Rough-winged Swallow

(Stelgidopteryx serripennis)

Conservation Status
IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

NatureServe

N5B, N5N - Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding

SNRB - Unranked Breeding

Minnesota

not listed

Species in Greatest Conservation Need

 
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Photo by Lynn Rubey
 
Description

Northern Rough-winged Swallow is a small bird but a medium-sized swallow. It occurs throughout the United States and southern Canada, and in Mexico and Central America. There are six currently recognized subspecies. Only the nominate subspecies Stelgidopteryx serripennis serripennis occurs in Minnesota. It is a common migrant in the state in the spring, an uncommon visitor in the summer, and an uncommon migrant in the fall. It winters from Mexico to Florida south to Panama. It is found in fields, open woodlands, and other open areas near water. It is usually seen singly or in pairs, but often feeds with groups of other swallow species. It eats almost exclusively flying insects, usually over water. It drinks on the wing by skimming the water surface.

Adults are 5 to 5 (13 to 15 cm) in length and have a 10 to 111316 (27 to 30 cm) wingspan. The body is long, the head and bill small. The upper parts are brown. The underparts are white with a grayish-brown wash on the chin, throat, upper breast and sides. It does not have a dark breast band. The rump is dark. The tail is square, not notched or forked. The wings are long and pointed. The outermost wing feathers have small serrations. The purpose of the serrations is unknown but may be to produce a sound during courtship displays.

 

Size

5 to 5 (13 to 15 cm) in length

10 to 111316 (27 to 30 cm) wingspan

 

Voice

 

Similar Species

 
Habitat

Fields, open woodlands, and other open areas near water

Ecology

Migration

Mid-April to early October

 

Nesting

It nests in dirt banks alone, not in colonies. It uses burrows excavated by other birds and mammals.

 

Food

Flying insects

Distribution

Occurrence

Common migrant, local breeder

 

Maps

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

Taxonomy

Class

Aves (birds)

Order

Passeriformes (perching birds)

Family

Hirundinidae (swallows and martins)

Genus

Stelgidopteryx (rough-winged swallows)

   

Subordinate Taxa

Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis burleighi)

Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis fulvipennis)

Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis serripennis)

Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis stuarti)

Ridgway’s Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis ridgwayi)

Sonora Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis psammochroa)

   

Synonyms

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Lynn Rubey

A Northern Rough-winged Swallow in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge in Lac qui Parle County on May 15, 2020.

  Northern Rough-winged Swallow
     
Northern Rough-winged Swallow    
   

 

A Norther Rough-winged Swallow in flight as it would dip low over the stream before coming to its perch near the walking path in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge in Lac qui Parle County.  

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
   

 

   

 

 

Camera

Slideshows

Northern Rough-winged Swallow
JMC Nature Photos

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

 

slideshow

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Other Videos

NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, Stelgidopteryx serripennis preening
Rob Curtis

About

Dec 23, 2019

NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, Stelgidopteryx serripennis preening, Montrose Point, Chicago, 2019

Rough-winged Swallow, golondrina aliaserrada (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
Akator Expeditions

About

Apr 29, 2011

Northern Rough winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
Guillermo Saborio

About

May 23, 2017

The nest was close, the insect in his beak was probably food for its chicks.

El nido estaba cerca, el insecto en su pico era probablemente alimento para sus polluelos.

Tour con Ernesto Carman de http://www.getyourbirds.com

Swallow bird sound / call / song | Northern rough-winged
GoTrails

About

Mar 27, 2020

Swallow bird sound / call / song | Northern rough-winged | chirp, noise, singing | audio, clip, HD video | Effect, Documentary, Facts, Habitat, Behavior, Habits, Information, Identification | Stelgidopteryx serripennis, golondrina aserrada, Hirondelle à ailes hérissées | martin, saw-wing | Wildlife, Animal | #gotrails, #swallows, #swallowbird, #birdcalls, #birdsounds, #birdcall, #birdsong

Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) - Feeding time
Nature's Wild Things

About

Jun 8, 2017

Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
Feeding Time!
Video 30 sec long 100% speed - Audio none
Cabarrus County, North Carolina, United States
Photo Walk - 05-26-2017

 

Camcorder

Visitor Sightings
 

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Lynn Rubey
5/15/2020

Location: Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge

A Northern Rough-winged Swallow in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge in Lac qui Parle County on May 15, 2020.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings

 

 

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Created: 6/14/2020

Last Updated:

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