Perch Supply
Swallows (Hirundinidae)

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx serripennis. Flying insects caught low over water.

Swallows (Hirundinidae)Northern Rough-winged SwallowStelgidopteryx serripennis
Scientific name
Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Length
4.7–5.9 in
Weight
0.4–0.6 oz
Nest
Grass nest in a burrow, pipe or crevice near water
Entrance hole
Does not use nest boxes
Clutch
4–8 eggs
Incubation
12–16 days
Broods
1–2 per season

Identification

  • Plain brown above, dingy white below
  • Dusky throat with no clean border
  • Slightly notched tail

Voice

A low, buzzy 'brrrt'.

Diet and feeding

Flying insects caught low over water.

What do northern rough-winged swallows eat? · Best feeder for northern rough-winged swallows

Northern Rough-winged Swallows by state and province

RegionStatusNesting
AlabamaSummer breederMarch–July
AlbertaSummer breederMay–July
ArizonaSummer breederMarch–July
ArkansasSummer breederApril–July
British ColumbiaSummer breederMay–July
CaliforniaSummer breederMarch–July
ColoradoSummer breederApril–July
ConnecticutSummer breederApril–July
DelawareSummer breederApril–July
FloridaSummer breederMarch–July
GeorgiaSummer breederMarch–July
IdahoSummer breederApril–July
IllinoisSummer breederApril–July
IndianaSummer breederApril–July
IowaSummer breederApril–July
KansasSummer breederApril–July
KentuckySummer breederApril–July
LouisianaSummer breederMarch–July
MaineSummer breederMay–July
ManitobaSummer breederMay–July
MarylandSummer breederApril–July
MassachusettsSummer breederApril–July
MichiganSummer breederApril–July
MinnesotaSummer breederMay–July
MississippiSummer breederMarch–July
MissouriSummer breederApril–July
MontanaSummer breederMay–July
NebraskaSummer breederApril–July
NevadaSummer breederApril–July
New BrunswickSummer breederMay–July
New HampshireSummer breederMay–July
New JerseySummer breederApril–July
New MexicoSummer breederApril–July
New YorkSummer breederApril–July
North CarolinaSummer breederApril–July
North DakotaSummer breederMay–July
OhioSummer breederApril–July
OklahomaSummer breederApril–July
OntarioSummer breederMay–July
OregonSummer breederApril–July
PennsylvaniaSummer breederApril–July
QuebecSummer breederMay–July
Rhode IslandSummer breederApril–July
SaskatchewanSummer breederMay–July
South CarolinaSummer breederMarch–July
South DakotaSummer breederApril–July
TennesseeSummer breederApril–July
TexasSummer breederMarch–July
UtahSummer breederApril–July
VermontSummer breederMay–July
VirginiaSummer breederApril–July
WashingtonSummer breederApril–July
West VirginiaSummer breederApril–July
WisconsinSummer breederMay–July
WyomingSummer breederMay–July

Frequently asked

What do northern rough-winged swallows eat?

Flying insects caught low over water. At feeders: none — open water and earth banks are the draw.

How big is a Northern Rough-winged Swallow?

4.7–5.9 in long and 0.4–0.6 oz.

Do northern rough-winged swallows use birdhouses?

No. Grass nest in a burrow, pipe or crevice near water.

Sources

  1. Northern Rough-winged Swallow — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Northern Rough-winged Swallow life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Northern Rough-winged Swallow — Audubon Guide to North American Birds

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.