Southern Rough-Winged Swallow
Stelgidopteryx ruficollis
About This Species
This slender swallow frequents riverbanks, lakeshores, and open country from the southern United States through much of South America, often seen flying low and steady over water while foraging for insects. Its plain brown upperparts and pale throat distinguish it from more boldly patterned swallow species. Look for it near riverbank burrows or culverts during the breeding season, when pairs make repeated low passes near their nest entrance.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Observing from the opposite bank or a moderate distance is enough to watch normal foraging flight without disturbing nesting birds.
- Migratory bird protections apply in the United States, while legal frameworks differ across the many Latin American countries within its range, so no single standard covers the whole species.
- Avoiding disturbance to riverbank burrows, particularly during nesting season, is the most effective way to protect breeding pairs.
LCAvesPasseriformesHirundinidae
Seasonal Activity
398,242 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Hirundinidae
Photo
Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.