Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Q: What are the chances of seeing a Northern Rough-winged Swallow in Saguaro National Park?

About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Northern Rough-winged Swallow sighting in Saguaro National Park, based on 9,223 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

Q: When is the best time to see Northern Rough-winged Swallow in Saguaro National Park?

March has the highest sighting rate for Northern Rough-winged Swallow in Saguaro National Park in our monthly data.

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

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 ~20% · Possible

at Saguaro National Park

9,223 Verified sightings at Saguaro National Park From 2019 to 2026

27,516 Verified sightings across all 87 parks From 2019 to 2026

March 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 Saguaro National Park

Hirundo rustica

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Progne subis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Tachycineta thalassina

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Tachycineta bicolor

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Riparia riparia

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Auriparus flaviceps

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

LC Endemic

Haemorhous mexicanus

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Spinus psaltria

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Melozone aberti

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Pyrocephalus rubinus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Toxostoma curvirostre

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

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	Big Bend National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
11	Channel Islands National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
12	Bahía de Loreto National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
13	Point Pelee National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
14	Cabo Pulmo National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
15	Zion National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
16	Great Smoky Mountains National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
17	Joshua Tree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
18	Tenorio Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
19	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
20	Tortuguero National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
21	Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
22	El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
23	Celestún Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
24	Banff National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
25	Grand Teton National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
26	Badlands National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
27	Redwood National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
28	Death Valley National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
29	Shenandoah National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
30	Glacier National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
31	Palo Verde National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
32	Jasper National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
33	Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
34	El Triunfo	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
35	Yosemite National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
36	Yellowstone National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
37	Pacific Rim National Park Reserve	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
38	Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
39	Calakmul Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
40	Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
41	Olympic National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
42	Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
43	Poás Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
44	Everglades National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
45	Pico Bonito National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	<5%
46	Great Bear Rainforest	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
47	Big Cypress National Preserve	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
48	Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	🇧🇿 Belize	<5%
49	Piedras Blancas National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
50	Ciénaga de Zapata	🇨🇺 Cuba	<5%
51	Chirripó National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
52	La Tigra National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	<5%
53	Las Baulas Marine National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
54	Grand Canyon National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
55	Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
56	Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
57	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
58	Cahuita National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
59	Los Haitises National Park	🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	<5%
60	Guadalupe Mountains National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
61	Congaree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
62	Riding Mountain National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
63	Parque Natural Metropolitano	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
64	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
65	Manuel Antonio National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
66	Marino Ballena National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
67	Rincón de la Vieja National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
68	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
69	Rocky Mountain National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
70	Chagres National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
71	Los Quetzales National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
72	Corcovado National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
73	Acadia National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
74	Isla del Coco National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
75	Voyageurs National Park	🇺🇸 United States	Insufficient data
76	Jaragua National Park	🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	Insufficient data
77	Ostional Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
78	Celaque National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	Insufficient data
79	Biotopo Cerro Cahuí	🇬🇹 Guatemala	Insufficient data
80	Santa Rosa National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
81	Elk Island National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	Insufficient data
82	Isle Royale National Park	🇺🇸 United States	Insufficient data
83	Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
84	Irazú Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
85	Masaya Volcano National Park	🇳🇮 Nicaragua	Insufficient data
86	Bastimentos Island National Marine Park	🇵🇦 Panama	Insufficient data
87	Darién National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	Insufficient data

Quick answers

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

About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Northern Rough-winged Swallow sighting in Saguaro National Park, based on 9,223 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

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

March has the highest sighting rate for Northern Rough-winged Swallow in Saguaro National Park in our monthly data.

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Northern Rough-winged Swallow

About the Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Closest Relatives at Saguaro National Park

Barn Swallow

Purple Martin

Cliff Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Bank Swallow

Verdin

House Finch

Lesser Goldfinch

Abert's Towhee

Vermilion Flycatcher

Curve-billed Thrasher

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

Quick answers