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

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca

In 3 days ~20% in a week ~30%

9 Verified sightings at Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca From 2019 to 2026
15,150 In all 78 parks
May Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

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 →

Sounds

Flight call0:41

Mexico · 2023

© Manuel Grosselet · XC782422 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Call0:22

United States · 2020

© Russ Wigh · XC567239 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Song0:09

United States · 2020

© Paul Marvin · XC534846 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Global Distribution

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

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Mesa 🇺🇸 United States
~30%
2 Tegucigalpa 🇭🇳 Honduras
~30%
3 León 🇲🇽 México
~20%
4 Monterrey 🇲🇽 México
~20%
5 Ciudad Juárez 🇲🇽 México
~20%
6 Chicago 🇺🇸 United States
~20%
7 Guatemala City 🇬🇹 Guatemala
~20%
8 Los Angeles 🇺🇸 United States
~20%
9 San Luis Potosí 🇲🇽 México
~20%
10 Phoenix 🇺🇸 United States
~10%

Closest Relatives at Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca

Violet-green Swallow
LC

Violet-green Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tachycineta thalassina

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Barn Swallow
LC

Barn Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hirundo rustica

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Yellow-eyed Junco
LC

Yellow-eyed Junco

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Junco phaeonotus

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
LC

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Regulus calendula

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Red Warbler
LC Endemic

Red Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cardellina rubra

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Slate-throated Redstart
LC

Slate-throated Redstart

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myioborus miniatus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Golden-crowned Kinglet
LC

Golden-crowned Kinglet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Regulus satrapa

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Townsend's Warbler
LC

Townsend's Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga townsendi

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Orange-crowned Warbler
LC

Orange-crowned Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Leiothlypis celata

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
American Robin
LC

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
House Finch
LC

House Finch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haemorhous mexicanus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Northern Rough-winged Swallow in Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Northern Rough-winged Swallow sighting in Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca on a given day, based on 9 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 76th most-seen of the 103 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Northern Rough-winged Swallow in Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca?

February, May and November

In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Northern Rough-winged Swallow in Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca on a given day, against under 5% in March, October and December–January, the lowest months. Those are among Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca's driest months, with about 55 mm of rain a month against 270 mm in July. April and June–September have too few records to rate.

What time of day is best to see a Northern Rough-winged Swallow?

Between 7 and 10 am

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Northern Rough-winged Swallow sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca the best place to see a Northern Rough-winged Swallow?

27th of 78

Of the 78 parks where we can rate Northern Rough-winged Swallow sightings, Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca ranks 27th at about 10%. The best odds are in Tikal National Park (Guatemala, about 40%), Lago de Yojoa (Honduras, about 40%) and Cañón del Sumidero National Park (Mexico, about 30%). All parks ranked.

Which relatives of the Northern Rough-winged Swallow live in Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca?

Same family: Hirundinidae

The closest relatives of the Northern Rough-winged Swallow that you can see in Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca (family Hirundinidae, Swallows and Martins) are Violet-green Swallow (about 20%) and Barn Swallow (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Northern Rough-winged Swallow sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Northern Rough-winged Swallow is recorded against all the birds logged in Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca (9 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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