Southern Rough-winged Swallow Gallery

Stelgidopteryx ruficollis

The Birds of the World website introduces the Southern Rough-winged Swallow with this descriptive information:  The Southern Rough-winged Swallow is a widespread aerial insectivore of southern Central America and much of South America.  It nests in burrows in banks, often near water, and is typically found near water when foraging as well.  Overall it is dusky brown with a pale rump and rusty throat and a pale yellowish belly, though western birds are less yellow below and have a whiter rump.  In 1981, Northern Rough-winged Swallow and Southern Rough-winged Swallow were described as separate species; the Northern is much drabber overall, but identification is a serious concern and identification should be considered carefully on extralimital or unseasonal records.  Southern Rough-winged Swallow is often found in flocks, and can be readily detected by its rising, buzzy bjzjeet calls.

I met my first Southern Rough-winged Swallow on the morning of Tuesday, August 23, 2023.  Our Jeff Parker Tour group was staying at Southwild’s Santa Tereza Lodge and I watched several of this bird from a boat on the Rio Sararé which is near the lodge.  For details of my Brazilian trip that include the sighting of this bird, look here.  Below are a couple of my photos of this cute and energetic little bird.  In the second photo the Swallow is perched above a Vermillion Flycatcher.