Rough-winged Swallows, California
By Charlie • November 30, 1999 • 1 comment
Northern Rough-winged Swallows
Van Nuys, California. 03 April 2006
This swallow was once considered a single species, the Rough-winged Swallow, that ranged from southern Canada to Argentina. Now, two separate species are recognized: Northern Rough-winged Swallow in North America and the Southern Rough-winged Swallow from Panama to Argentina. As a whole, the taxonomy of the genus Stelidopteryx is uncertain and in need of further study.
The Northern Rough-winged Swallow winters into middle Central America and northern South America.
The species breeds over a wide altitudinal range, nesting from sea level to 6,000 feet. Open areas, including open woodlands, are preferred as breeding habitat. This bird is common throughout its breeding range, but its local distribution depends on suitable nest sites. Nest sites are predominantly near rocky gorges, shale banks, stony road cuts, railroad embankments, gravel pits, eroded margins of streams and other exposed banks of clay, sand or gravel. They will also nest in old kingfisher burrows, protruding drainpipes, crevices in brick or stone structure such as dams, bridges or tunnels, gutters and culverts. They often nest near open water, but water may be coincidental with occurrence of suitable nest sites.
Northern Rough-winged Swallows are declining. Contributing factors may include the scarcity of suitable nest sites, competition from other bank nesting swallows, nest predation from weasels and other predators, and the use of pesticides and the resulting reduction in the number of insects. Unusually cold weather during the nesting season also reduces the availability of insects and may lead to starvation of young and adults. Fortunately, Rough-winged Swallows are fairly successful in fledging young and is no doubt a help in maintaining their populations in the face of increasing human pressure.
Barbs on the outer edge of the outer primary flight feather give Rough-winged Swallows their name. Barbs are generally more pronounced on males than females (Pyle 1997, Turner & Rose 1989). Visible only under a magnifying glass (and found also in an unrelated group of mainly central African swallows, Rough-wings (or alternatively Saw-wings) in the genus Psalidoprocne) their function is unknown, but may serve to produce sounds during the mating season.
(Adapted from http://faculty.ncwc.edu/mbrooks/pif/Bird%20Profiles/northernrough_winged_swallow.htm and http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recnum=BD0254)
Stelgidopteryx serripennis
The Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis breeds in the US throughout the lower 48 states and extends into portions of southern Canada. There are birds found year-round along portions of the Gulf coast and in Mexico and parts of Central America.
All photos copyright Charlie Moores
[...] One of the my many daily blessings is the variety of birds I get to enjoy in my own backyard. Our backyard was set up as a sort of sanctuary by the previous owner and evidently the birds in the area greatly appreciate it. I would say I appreciate it it more. From my kitchen table, reading my morning paper I am constantly entertained by the symphony of sights and sounds from the avain world. Our regulars include Mourning Doves, Blue Jays, Towhees, Hummingbirds, Mockingbirds, (and depending on the time of year) Warblers, Tanagers and a variety of Sparrows and the Titmouse. Now I don’t claim to know these birds by name but I do know I provide a restful stop on the avian train. I earlier wrote about the Woodpeckers who nested in the telephone pole at the bottom of my driveway and I was so excited to watch a Mockingbird couple build a nest in a small vine covered arbor in my backyard. I watched as the birds built the nest and waited to see or hear the results. Tragically the family was not to be as we found two of the babies on the ground and the third tangled in the potato vine that covers the arbor. There were no signs that they had been attacked by a predetor so I don’t know what actually occured but I was so sad to have lost someone from my family. At about the same time I noticed a couple of small birds I wasn’t familiar with furtivly diving in and out under the eve of my shop. My curiosity paid off as I watched this couple start to build a nest using a small electrical box as a base. It took them about a week and then I waited and watched. From my desk in my shop I would watch these small birds flit on the railroad ties outside my window. I could watch them no more than feet away as they nervously went about their business. I finally noticed them starting to forage for worms and insects instead of twigs for the nest and noticed new voices in the crowd. Sure enough, we had a squeaking, squawking nest full of fuzz headed baby birds. I still wasn’t sure of what type of birds they are but bless the internet I found out they are Rough-winged swallows, http://10000birds.com/rough-winged-swallows-california.htm [...]