Southern Rough winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis)

[order] Passeriformes | [family] Hirundinidae | [latin] Stelgidopteryx ruficollis | [UK] Southern Rough-winged Swallow | [FR] Hirondelle a gorge rousse | [DE] Rauhflugelschwalbe | [ES] Golondrina de Cuello Rojizo | [IT] Rondine aliruvide meridionale | [NL] Zuidamerikaanse Ruwvleugelzwaluw

The Southern Rough-winged Swallow is generally greyish-brown on its upperparts. It has a cinnamon throat above generally greyish brown underparts except for pale yellow on the belly and undertail coverts. “Rough-winged” refers to the serrated edge of the outer primary feathers on the wing of this bird; this feature would only be apparent when holding this bird.

It occurs in Central and South America from Honduras south to northern Argentina and Uruguay. It also occurs on Trinidad.

It is widespread in open areas and clearings. However, it is found in greater numbers by the water. It lives in small groups, perching on dead branches or wires

It nests in holes in ravines, sometimes in dispersed colonies, along rivers or road cuttings. It nests in grass-lined cavities of various types, including holes in banks or walls, or disused kingfisher and jacamar nests. It does not form colonies. The clutch is 3-6 white eggs, incubated by the female for 16-18 days and with another 13 days to fledging.

Southern Rough-winged Swallow forages for insects in flight, usually flying low with a slow deliberate flight.

This species has a large range, with an estimated global extent of occurrence of 14,000,000 km