Stelgidopteryx

Stelgidopteryx
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Hirundinidae
Subfamily:	Hirundininae
Genus:	Stelgidopteryx S.F. Baird, 1858
Species
S. serripennis S. ruficollis

Stelgidopteryx (Baird, 1858) is a small genus of swallows. It contains two species:

• Northern rough-winged swallow, Stelgidopteryx serripennis, a migratory North America bird
  • Ridgway's rough-winged swallow, Stelgidopteryx serripennis ridgwayi
• Southern rough-winged swallow, Stelgidopteryx ruficollis, a partial migrant breeding in Central and South America

Adults of both species are brown on top with lighter underparts and a slightly forked tail. They nest in cavities but do not excavate their holes or form colonies.

These birds forage in flight over water or fields, usually flying low. They eat insects.

"Rough-winged" refers to the serrated edge feathers on the wing of this genus; this feature would only be apparent in the hand.

References

• ffrench, Richard (1991). A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago (2nd ed.). Comstock Publishing. ISBN 0-8014-9792-2. 
• Hilty, Steven L. (2003). Birds of Venezuela. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-6418-5. 
• Turner, Angela K.; Rose, Chris (1989). A Handbook to the Swallows and Martins of the World. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7470-3202-5.