From Opus

Photo by petersheikhli

Stelgidopteryx ruficollis

[edit] Identification

13.5 cm. Brown above, black wings and tail and a pale grey rump. Rufous throat and upper breast, yellow white lower underparts. The tail is slightly forked. It is similar in appearance to its northern counterpart, the Northern Rough-winged Swallow but is more uniform in colour, particularly on the rump.

Rough-winged refers to the serrated edge of the outer primary feathers on the wing of this bird.

[edit] Distribution

Honduras, northern Argentina, Trinidad and Uruguay.

[edit] Taxonomy

The nominate race is S. r. ruficollis, there is also the northern S. r. aequalis.

[edit] Habitat

Open areas and forest clearings.

[edit] Behaviour

It nests in grass-lined cavities such as holes in banks or walls, or disused kingfisher and jacamar nests. 3-6 white eggs are laid, and incubated by the female for 16-18 days and with another 13 days to fledging.

The diet includes insects which are taken in flight.

[edit] External Links