Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
FamilyHirundinidae (Swallows and Martins)
GenusStelgidopteryx (Rough-winged Swallows)
SpeciesStelgidopteryx serripennis (Northern Rough-winged Swallow)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Ostional Wildlife Refuge

4 Verified sightings at Ostional Wildlife Refuge From 2019 to 2026

21,156 Verified sightings across all 65 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ 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 Ostional Wildlife Refuge

Stelgidopteryx ruficollis

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Tachycineta albilinea

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Hirundo rustica

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Progne chalybea

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Tachycineta bicolor

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Riparia riparia

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Progne subis

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Pitangus sulphuratus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Campylorhynchus capistratus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Quiscalus mexicanus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Tyrannus melancholicus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

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

← Back to Ostional Wildlife Refuge

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

About the Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Recent sightings of Northern Rough-winged Swallow in Ostional Wildlife Refuge

Closest Relatives at Ostional Wildlife Refuge

Southern Rough-winged Swallow

Mangrove Swallow

Barn Swallow

Gray-breasted Martin

Tree Swallow

Cliff Swallow

Bank Swallow

Purple Martin

Great Kiskadee

Rufous-backed Wren

Great-tailed Grackle

Tropical Kingbird

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found