Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Northern Rough-winged SwallowNorthern Rough-winged SwallowNorthern Rough-winged SwallowNorthern Rough-winged Swallow

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Channel Islands National Park
902 Verified sightings at Channel Islands National Park From 2019 to 2026
21,156 Verified sightings across all 65 parks From 2019 to 2026
May Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Northern Rough-winged Swallow

The northern rough-winged swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) is a small, migratory swallow. It is very similar to the southern rough-winged swallow, Stelgidopteryx ruficollis. The genus name, Stelgidopteryx, is from Ancient Greek and means "scraper wing" and the species name, serripennis, is derived from Latin and means "saw feather". In the common name, "rough-winged" refers to the serrated edge feathers on the wing of this bird; this feature would only be apparent when holding this bird.

Six subspecies of the northern rough-winged swallow are currently recognized. Stelgidopteryx serripennis serripennis is the nominate subspecies and can be found to occur in southern Alaska and Canada to the southern United States. They are found to usually winter in southern Florida and from southwestern Mexico to Panama. It was described by Audubon in 1838.

Stelgidopteryx serripennis psammochrous was described by Ludlow Griscom in 1929. It breeds in the southwestern US and winters from central Mexico to Panama. It can be differentiated from the nominate race by being paler, especially on the crown and rump.

Stelgidopteryx serripennis fulvipennis is... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Channel Islands National Park

Barn Swallow
LC

Barn Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hirundo rustica

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Tree Swallow
LC

Tree Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tachycineta bicolor

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Cliff Swallow
LC

Cliff Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Violet-green Swallow
LC

Violet-green Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tachycineta thalassina

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Bank Swallow
LC

Bank Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Riparia riparia

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Purple Martin
LC

Purple Martin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Progne subis

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
House Finch
LC

House Finch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haemorhous mexicanus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Black Phoebe
LC

Black Phoebe

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sayornis nigricans

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Song Sparrow
LC

Song Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melospiza melodia

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
American Crow
LC

American Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus brachyrhynchos

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Common Yellowthroat
LC

Common Yellowthroat

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Geothlypis trichas

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Bushtit
LC

Bushtit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Psaltriparus minimus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Tikal National Park 🇬🇹 Guatemala
~40%
2 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
~40%
3 Cañón del Sumidero National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~30%
4 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~30%
5 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~20%
6 Cusuco National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~20%
7 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~20%
8 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
9 Saguaro National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~20%
10 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
11 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
12 Cabo Pulmo National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
13 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
14 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
15 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
16 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
17 Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
18 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
19 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
20 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
21 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
22 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
23 El Triunfo 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
24 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
25 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
26 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
27 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
28 Poás Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
29 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
30 Pico Bonito National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
31 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
32 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 🇧🇿 Belize
<5%
33 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
34 Ciénaga de Zapata 🇨🇺 Cuba
<5%
35 Chirripó National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
36 La Tigra National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
37 Las Baulas Marine National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
38 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
39 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
40 Carara National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
41 Cahuita National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
42 Los Haitises National Park 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
<5%
43 Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
44 Parque Natural Metropolitano 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
45 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
46 Manuel Antonio National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
47 Marino Ballena National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
48 Rincón de la Vieja National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
49 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
50 Chagres National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
51 Los Quetzales National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
52 Corcovado National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
53 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
54 Isla del Coco National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
55 Jaragua National Park 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
Insufficient data
56 Ostional Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
57 Celaque National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
58 Biotopo Cerro Cahuí 🇬🇹 Guatemala
Insufficient data
59 Santa Rosa National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
60 Isle Royale National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
61 Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
62 Irazú Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
63 Masaya Volcano National Park 🇳🇮 Nicaragua
Insufficient data
64 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
65 Darién National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Northern Rough-winged Swallow in Channel Islands National Park?

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Northern Rough-winged Swallow sighting in Channel Islands National Park, based on 902 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Northern Rough-winged Swallow in Channel Islands National Park?

May has the highest sighting rate for Northern Rough-winged Swallow in Channel Islands National Park in our monthly data.

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