Northern Rough-winged Swallow
(Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | LC - Least Concern |
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| NatureServe | N5B, N5N - Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding SNRB - Unranked Breeding |
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| Minnesota | not listed Species in Greatest Conservation Need |
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Description |
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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 5⅛″ to 5⅞″ (13 to 15 cm) in length and have a 10⅝″ to 1113⁄16″ (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. |
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Size |
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5⅛″ to 5⅞″ (13 to 15 cm) in length 10⅝″ to 1113⁄16″ (27 to 30 cm) wingspan |
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Voice |
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Similar Species |
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Habitat |
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Fields, open woodlands, and other open areas near water |
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Biology |
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Migration |
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Mid-April to early October |
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Nesting |
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It nests in dirt banks alone, not in colonies. It uses burrows excavated by other birds and mammals. |
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Food |
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Flying insects |
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Distribution |
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Occurrence |
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Common migrant, local breeder |
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Maps |
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The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map |
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Taxonomy |
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| Class | Aves (birds) | ||
Order |
Passeriformes (perching birds) | ||
Family |
Hirundinidae (swallows and martins) | ||
Genus |
Stelgidopteryx (rough-winged swallows) | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
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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) |
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Synonyms |
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| Visitor Photos | |||
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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. |
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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. |
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| MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos | |||
| Slideshows | ||
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow JMC Nature Photos |
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| Visitor Videos | |||
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| Other Videos | |||
| NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, Stelgidopteryx serripennis preening Rob Curtis |
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About
Dec 23, 2019 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, Stelgidopteryx serripennis preening, Montrose Point, Chicago, 2019 |
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| Rough-winged Swallow, golondrina aliaserrada (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) Akator Expeditions |
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About
Apr 29, 2011 |
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| Northern Rough winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) Guillermo Saborio |
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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 |
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| Swallow bird sound / call / song | Northern rough-winged GoTrails |
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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 |
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| Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) - Feeding time Nature's Wild Things |
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About
Jun 8, 2017 Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) |
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| Visitor Sightings | ||||
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This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location. |
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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. |
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| MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings | ||||
Created: 6/14/2020
Last Updated: