5.0 inches long. The Northern Rough-winged Swallow has a relatively square tail. It has warm brown upperparts and white underparts with a dusky throat and breast. Like all swallows the wings are long and pointed.
The Northern Rough-winged Swallow is a common breeding bird that arrives by mid April and leaves by mid October.
The Northern Rough-winged Swallow is named for the tiny hooks found on its outer primaries. The purpose of these hooks is not known. It nests in holes or burrows near water. The Northern Rough-winged Swallow is adept at low-elevation flight over fields and water. It feeds over water more than most species of swallows and occasionally picks floating insects from the water surface.
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