From Opus

Photo by Glen Tepke

Photo by Tom Jenner
subspecies ridgwayi, Ridgway's Rough-winged Swallow
Photo taken at the Mayan archaeological site at Tikal in Guatemala in April 04. These birds were nesting in the temples.

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Includes: Ridgway's Rough-winged Swallow

[edit] Identification

L. 4.75 inches

• Brown upperparts
• Pale brown throat; rest of underparts paler but not white
• White undertail coverts
• Squared tail

[edit] Juvenile

Two distinct cinnamon-brown wing-bars

[edit] Similar Species

May be confused with Bank Swallow.

[edit] Distribution

Breeding Alaska and southern Canada southward throughout the USA through Mexico and Central America to Costa Rica; wintering to Panama.

[edit] Taxonomy

Northern Rough-winged Swallow was in the past considered conspecific with Southern Rough-winged Swallow. Northern Rough-winged Swallow has five universally recognized subspecies: serripennis, psammochrous, burleighi, fulvipennis, and stuarti; some authorities additionally recognize ridgwayi, others accept ridgwayi as full species, Ridgway's Rough-winged Swallow.

[edit] Habitat

Streams, lakes and river banks.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Breeding

Nests in cavities near water, usually a burrow in dirt and 4-8 eggs are laid. Eggs are incubated by the female for 13 days, with another 20 days until fledging.

[edit] External Links