Northern Rough-Winged Swallow

A plain brown swallow typically seen flying low and fast over rivers, ponds and open water, catching insects on the wing with quick, erratic turns. It nests in burrows in earthen banks, road cuts and drainage pipes, so a good place to look is near eroded riverbanks in early summer. Its flight is usually silent to the casual observer and is best appreciated simply by watching its foraging passes over the water.