Northern Rough-winged Swallow
The Northern Rough-winged Swallow is similar to Bank and immature Tree Swallow but has warmer brown upperparts and a dusky throat and breast. It lacks the breast band of the Bank Swallow and is larger. The name "Rough-winged" refers to tiny hooklets on the outer vane (flat part of a feather) near the end of the shaft of the outer primary feathers. The function of these hooks, visible only under a magnifying glass, is unknown. Unlike the Bank Swallow, Rough-wings do not usually dig their own nesting burrows but use ready-made nesting sites along streams. Thus they do not nest in large colonies like the Bank Swallow, although occasionally a few pairs may be found close together.

The Northern Rough-winged Swallow's song is a low, unmusical br-r-ret, more drawn out than the call of the Bank Swallow and often doubled.

The Northern Rough-winged Swallow breeds from southeastern Alaska and southern Canada southward throughout United States. It winters north to southern California, Gulf Coast and southern Florida. It prefers drier riverbanks than the Bank Swallow.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow Range Map

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