- Stelgidopteryx ruficollis
Identification
_1_DABS.JPG)
13 cm (5 in)
- Brown upperparts
- Black wings and tail
- Pale grey rump
- RRufous or cinnamon throat and upper breast
- Yellowish-white lower underparts
- Slightly forked tail
They have serrated edges to the outer primary feathers, hence the name "rough-winged".
Variation
The birds in Central America often give an impression of a rump of pale cinnamon color rather than the gray seen further south.
Similar species
It is similar in appearance to the Northern Rough-winged Swallow which is more uniform in colour, particularly on the rump but also throat.
Distribution
From Honduras through Central and South America to Trinidad, Peru, northern Argentina, and Uruguay (but not Chile).
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Four subspecies are recognized[1]:
- S. r. uropygialis:
- S. r. decolor:
- Pacific coast of Costa Rica and Panama
- S. r. aequalis:
- S. r. ruficollis:
Habitat
Open areas and forest clearings, especially near water. Generally below 1000 m.
Behaviour
Breeding
They nest in cavities such as holes in banks or walls, or disused kingfisher and jacamar nests. These cavities are lined with grass for the clutch of 3-6 white eggs. They are incubated by the female for 16-18 days requiring another 13 days to fledging.
Diet
Their diet consists of insects such as flies, beetles, bugs and flying ants. They generally feed alone or in small groups.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Ridgely & Gwynne 1989. Birds of Panama. Princeton Paperbacks. ISBN 0691025126
- Turner, A. (2020). Southern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.srwswa1.01
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Southern Rough-winged Swallow. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 1 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Southern_Rough-winged_Swallow
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
