Northern rough-winged swallow, Stelgidopteryx
serripennis
 Range
of the Norther Rough-winged Swallow
The Northern Rough-winged Swallow is found in
most of California except in the southern deserts and up to the
higher elevations.
Migration of the Northern Rough-winged
Swallow
The Northern rough-winged swallow spends the
winter in Mexico and South America where insects are plentiful
during this part of the year. A few stranglers do overwinter in
the far south east of the state along the Colorado river and
around the Salton sea.
Habitat/ Plant community used by the Northern
Rough-winged Swallow
The Northern Rough-winged swallow does not
require a wet area near their nest site like the Cliff Swallow as
they do not build their nests from mud however they do seem to
prefer water near by this is probably because there are usually a
high abundance of insects in these areas. They can also be found
in more arid environments as well as forested areas.
 Northern
Oak woodlands
Central
Oak Woodlands
Southern
Oak Woodlands
Valley
Grassland
Chaparral
Mountain
Meadow
Riparian
Diet of the Northern Rough-winged Swallows
The Norther Rough-winged Swallow eats insects
that they hawk from the air.
How to attract the Northern rough-winged
Swallow to your garden
The Northern Rough-winged swallow is hard to
attract to your garden as it eats insects and most people don't
want to attract that many insects to their garden. (Were not
talking butterflies here.) We had this
couple come to our yard in search of a nesting site. They
seem to find the antic vents of our Spanish style house appealing
but in the end the found them unsuitably and left. They don't
seem to like nest boxes and prefer to nest in cavities of dirt,
rather than trees.
Nesting habitat used by the Northern
Rough-winged Swallows
The Northern Rough winged swallow is a cavity
nester. Often using an old hole or burrow or excavating their own
in a cliff face, or a creek or river bank. They especially like
old kingfisher burrows, drainpipes and culverts. Unlike the Cliff
Swallow the Northern rough-winged swallow often nests in a
single pair rather than in a large colony. They often line their
nest holes with soft plant material.
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