Golondrina Aserrada

La golondrina de aspecto más sencillo de Norteamérica. Parda lisa por encima con un lavado pardo indistinto en la garganta y el pecho. Las alas son relativamente anchas; la cola es corta y cuadrada (o ligeramente escotada). Los juveniles tienen barras alares rojizas. La subespecie "Ridgway", encontrada principalmente en la península de Yucatán, es más grande y esbelta, recordando casi a un avión. Busque la escotadura más profunda en la cola y las coberteras infracaudales con punta oscura. A menudo se ve cerca del agua, a veces en bandadas mixtas con otras golondrinas. Cría en agujeros y grietas, a menudo a lo largo de las orillas de los ríos o bajo un puente. No es un anidante colonial como la Golondrina Ribereña. Su llamada es un zumbido bajo y áspero que se eleva ligeramente en tono. Compare con la Golondrina Ribereña, que tiene una banda pectoral oscura contrastante. También es muy similar a la Golondrina Alas Ásperas del Sur, que se solapa en Centroamérica. La Golondrina Alas Ásperas del Sur tiene una garganta leonada más brillante y un obispillo más pálido.

Identificación

Adults are 13–15 cm (5.1–5.9 in) in length, brown above with white underparts, a small bill, and a forked tail. Their throat is white with a brownish-grey wash, and below the throat are white underparts. The adults have a wingspan of 27–30 cm (11–12 in) and a weight of 10–18 g (0.35–0.63 oz). The males' undertail coverts are longer and broader than those of the females. The males also have hooked barbs on the outer web of their outer primary wings. The barbs on the females are shorter and straighter than those of the males. Juveniles can be distinguished from adults by their reddish-brown wing-bars.They are similar in appearance to the bank swallow, but have a dusky throat and breast. They are closely related and very similar to the southern rough-winged swallow, Stelgidopteryx ruficollis, but that species has a more contrasting rump, and the ranges do not quite overlap.The call of this swallow is described as a short, harsh zeep. It has also been described as a rough, low bzzt. It is often doubled. This call is similar to the call of the bank swallow.

Taxonomía

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.It has been proposed that another race aphracta be recognized, but this is debated. This race is apparently described as being darker above with a greyer throat compared to serripennis. It has been described as occurring in the western Great Basin region, in the United States.

Nombre científico

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Autoridad

(Audubon, 1838)

Orden

Passeriformes

Familia

Hirundínidos

Género

Stelgidopteryx