Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)

• Length: 5.5 in
• Wingspan: 11 – 14 in
• Smaller, but stockier than other swallows
• Plumage is dark / plain brown with black wing linings and buffy underparts
• Sexes similar
• Juvenile similar to adult but exhibits bright cinnamon wing-bars
• Digs holes in sandbanks and soil to nest
• Medium, slightly squared tail
• Bill short and black
• Underwings dark brown with pale bases

This is the most similar looking species to the Chimney Swift but look for the buffy (lighter colored) underparts as a defining feature of this bird species.

Adult Northern Rough-winged Swallow	Juvenile Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Photo courtesy of Casey Tucker	Photo courtesy of Powdermill Avian Research Center