Northern Rough-winged Swallow

The Northern Rough-winged Swallow is a brown bird that was discovered by accident. In 1819, John James Audubon believed he had collected a few Bank Swallows in Louisiana, but when observed it a little closer, he realized he had found a completely new species.

About Northern Rough-winged Swallows

Northern Rough-winged Swallows are named the same because of the serration present on their outermost wing feather. They make distinct sounds during courtship flights.

Northern Rough-winged Swallows are aerial foragers which are especially skilled at flying at low elevations. These birds commonly fly through narrow and irregular terrain. Northern Rough-winged Swallows are quite common throughout their extensive range, but these birds are commonly neglected or overlooked. Perhaps, this might be due to the significantly smaller populations of these birds.

In comparison to other swallows, they forage a lot more frequently over water, and sometimes they also pick insects from the surface of the water. Earlier Northern Rough-winged swallows were clubbed together with Southern Rough-winged Swallows as these birds were considered to be of the same species. These are the two species of the genus Stelgidopteryx that are commonly recognized by authors, although some ornithologists maintain that a third species called Ridgway’s Rough-winged Swallows also exist.

Populations of Northern Rough-winged Swallows have increased through the years. This is probably the result of their ability to nest in an artificial site. So, as civilization has spread out through time, these birds have found more areas such as holes in bridges and road cuts to nest in.

Northern Rough-winged Swallows are solitary birds that nest individually. While migrating these birds can be parts of loose flocks. If migrating with birds of other brighter species, these birds will probably go unnoticed. Although often neglected, these birds are very interesting.

● Northern Rough-winged Swallows Photos, Color Pattern, Song
● Northern Rough-winged Swallows Size, Eating behavior, Habitat
● Northern Rough-winged Swallows Range and Migration, Nesting

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Northern Rough-winged Swallow Color Pattern

The plumages of all populations of Northern Rough-winged swallows have some variation between them. Much of the variation in color is due to the wearing of feathers and the aging of the birds. Apart from this, color variation between individuals is also quite significant. As a result of this, these birds can’t always precisely be distinguished according to the color of their plumage.

Upper parts such as the neck, lores, and sides of the head are grayish-brown. Lesser coverts and median coverts are also of the same color. Their backsides are paler in appearance due to the paler edges of feathers. The cinnamon coloration of upper parts and the cinnamon-rufous wing edges that were present in juveniles are now absent.

Sides, flanks, breast, throat, and chin are all grayish-brown, but paler than the other upperparts. Throat and chin are the palest in comparison. When the plumage is fresh, the throat has a buff tinge.

Other underparts, such as the undertail-coverts are dull white. Some individuals have subterminal dark bands on the shafts of longer under tail-coverts. Wings are generally darker grayish-brown than the rest of the body, and outside of
breeding season the tertial and secondary wing feathers have gray tips.

Although these birds are closely related to Southern Rough-winged Swallows, these two species have vastly different plumages.

Description and Identification

Northern Rough-winged swallows are small and rather indistinctive birds. One of their only unique characteristics is their serrated wings. If one runs their finger along the edge of the feather it feels like touching a rough file. The meaning of their species name serripennis translates to “saw feather”.

Unlike most other birds, they molt some of their feathers while in flight. Northern Rough-winged Swallows are actually relatively quiet birds except during certain occasions like egg-laying and nest-building. Parents themselves can’t recognize the sound of their offspring’s voices.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow Song

Northern Rough-winged Swallows don’t sing a particular song, but they have a few distinct calls. Most of the calls are variants of the same notes.

The most frequently made call of theirs which is used to identify these birds is a sequence of “brrrt” notes. These notes have a length of 3-5 seconds, and they are in rapid succession. When territorial males are interacting near the nest, or with other individuals, they produce a buzzy “jrr-jrr-jrr” or “jee-jee-jee”.

Alarm notes are usually by females as a response to any disturbance they find at the nest site. These can be single notes, or they can be in a sequence of 2-8 notes. The length of individual notes often varies in length, but in comparison to the calls of the males, they are much longer, harsher, and high-pitched.

If Northern Rough-winged Swallows are involved in violent chases they utter a number of single high notes. If the males are actually fighting with each other, a high, short, and sharp note is repeated. In contrast, females utter soft and conversational notes.

Through the entire nest construction process, males regularly vocalize when they encounter any birds of their own genus. Females also sometimes join in. The frequency of vocalizations significantly reduces when the egg-laying process begins, and then remains low through the rest of the season.

After egg-laying females might completely stop vocalizing, and males might occasionally perch atop a branch near the nesting site while the female is incubating.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow Size

Northern Rough-winged Swallows are quite small in comparison to other Swallows. Their length varies between 5.1-5.9 inches, and their wingspan is approximately 11-12 inches. They generally weigh between 0.35-0.63 ounces. They are similar to Bank Swallows, but they are larger in size.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow Behavior

Northern Rough-winged Swallows are aerial foragers that are rarely on the ground. They’re most commonly on the ground when they are gathering materials for their nests. The rapid and jerky movements made while walking aptly display their nervous predisposition. Usually, these birds don’t travel on the ground since they travel even the shortest distances through flight.

While flying these birds have wingbeats that are a lot slower than the wingbeats of Bank Swallows. Another difference in their flight from their close relatives is the manner in which they glide. While gliding they keep their wings straight out from their body without bending them.

While preening, Northern Rough-winged Swallows repeatedly dip their heads in the water. By raising their foot over their wings, they commonly scratch their heads. These birds scratch their heads during flight.

Males are non-incubating. Females generally roost in areas with shrubs and trees. These areas need to be near sources of food and water. Incubating or egg-laying females spend the night in burrows. If the weather is severely cold, several birds can roost together in a single burrow. Northern Rough-winged Swallows sunbathe by exposing their underparts
to the sun.

Once a pair is mated, they spend a large amount of their time protecting their nests. If any intruder dares to come near their nest, they display hostility. The intruder can be subjected to vocalizations and persistent chases from either males or females. Sometimes, this aggressive chasing might lead to sparring between the two birds. In extreme fights, both birds usually fall to the ground and separate shortly. In extremely rare cases, duels go on for longer.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow Diet

Most of their diet consists of flying insects. Occasionally, these birds might consume some plant matter. Northern Rough-winged Swallows mostly forage in lower elevations near water. If the weather is especially bad, they forage from a position even closer to the ground.

These diurnal birds feed from dusk to dawn. Sometimes they catch floating insects from the water surface. If there is an abundance of surface insects, they may land to feast on them. Over 99% of their food consists of insects. They only had about 0.2% of vegetable matter.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow Habitat

Nests in their breeding range are in elevations between 2,000-8,000 feet. These birds prefer open areas, especially open woodlands. These birds are common throughout their breeding range.

Common habitats inhabited by them are shale banks, stony road cuts, railroad embankments, eroded margins of streams, gravel pits, and rocky gorges. These birds can nest in any artificial cavity or crevice. Holes in bridges, walls, wharves, and crevices in openings in gutters, drainpipes, and culverts are all suitable nest sites for these birds.

Most populations nest near open water, but it may be due to the fact that most of the suitable nest sites are coincidentally located near sources of water. These birds are also common in coastal harbors and jetties.

There isn’t enough information about the habitats of these birds while they are migrating. They are similar to their breeding habitats. They prefer areas that have an abundance of insects.

The wintering habitats of Northern Rough-winged Swallows can also not be clearly defined because it is not very easy to distinguish between migrants and residents on the field.

Range and Migration

Northern Rough-winged Swallows are native to a number of locations in North and Central America. These are the United States, Puerto Rico, Saint Pierre, and Miquelon, Nicaragua, Mexico, Jamaica, Haiti, and Honduras. These birds are occasional vagrants to Barbados, Dominican Republic, Sint Maarten, and Aruba. Except for the populations living in Mexico and further south, all other populations of these birds are migratory.

Northern Rough-winged Swallows migrate moderate distances. These Swallows are diurnal migrants. Mostly, these birds migrate in mixed-species flocks which can be sparsely or densely populated.

The population that breeds in the United States reaches the breeding grounds in early spring, and leave by late summer. Sometimes these birds may stay for longer.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow Lifecycle

Northern Rough-winged Swallows form pairs immediately after they arrive in their breeding areas. Broadly, these birds lay eggs between mid-may to mid-July. These Swallows only raise one brood per year, although there might be attempts to re-lay eggs if the first brood fails.

The shape of the eggs is subelliptical. Right after they lay their eggs they are smooth and transparent with a pinkish wash. As they incubate the eggs, they gain a glossy coloration.

Females lay around 4-8 eggs which need to be incubated for an average of 16 days. Young females gain sexual maturity before they turn 1 year old.

Nesting

Both sexes of Northern Rough-winged Swallows are interested in choosing nest sites. These birds generally nest in burrows created by Kingfishers, Bank Swallows, and squirrels. These burrows are usually created near areas near water. Other than burrows, these birds can nest in any artificial hole, cavity, or crevice. Northern Rough-winged Swallow either nest alone, or in really small groups.

Females gather twigs, grasses, and other vegetation from the ground to create a loose inside a hole or burrow. The burrows can be about 11-40 inches deep.

Anatomy of a Northern Rough-winged Swallow

In comparison to other Swallows, these birds are quite small. These lean birds have small bills, average-sized legs and tarsi, and a square tail.

Final Thoughts

Northern Rough-winged Swallows are actually very pretty birds, but unfortunately, they are overlooked. It’s amazing that they can nest in any cavity they find. Sighting them would not be the easiest task for birdwatchers, but with some patience, it is definitely possible.

Ornithology

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Bird Watching Binoculars for Identifying Northern Rough-winged Swallows

The most common types of bird watching binoculars for viewing Northern Rough-winged Swallows are 8×21 binoculars and 10×42 binoculars. Bird Watching Academy & Camp sells really nice 8×21 binoculars and 10×42 binoculars. You can view and purchase them here.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stickers

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Bird Feeders For Northern Rough-winged Swallows

There are many types of bird feeders. Bird feeders are a great addition to your backyard. Bird feeders will increase the chances of attracting birds drastically. Both kids and adults will have a great time watching birds eat at these bird feeders. There are a wide variety of bird feeders on the market and it is important to find the best fit for you and your backyard.

Bird HousesFor Northern Rough-winged Swallows

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