Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 4.7–5.9 in
12–15 cm - Wingspan
- 10.6–11.8 in
27–30 cm - Weight
- 0.4–0.6 oz
10–18 g
Other Names
- Hirondelle à ailes hérissées (French)
- Golondrina ala de sierra, Golondrina alirraspos, Norteña (Spanish)
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.
Habitat
River/Stream
Breeds in a wide variety of open habitats, with openings in various vertical surfaces, including banks, gorges, and human structures.
Food
Insects
Flying insects.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 4–8 eggs
- Egg Description
- White.
- Condition at Hatching
- Helpless with sparse down.
Nest Description
Nests in burrows or cavities in various substrates. Probably uses burrows made by other species, but may dig its own nest.
Nest Placement
Burrow
Behavior
Aerial Forager
Catches insects in flight, often close to ground or water surface.
Conservation
Least Concern
Generally adapts well to environments affected by human activity. No specific conservation concern.
Credits
- 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.