Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) is in the Swallows and Martins family (Hirundinidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 22,458 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Northern Rough-winged Swallow: observations by month (U.S.)
About Northern Rough-winged Swallow
The northern rough-winged swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) is a small, migratory swallow. It is very similar to the southern rough-winged swallow, Stelgidopteryx ruficollis.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 5,580 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Illinois | 1,709 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Texas | 1,342 | April | Mar–May |
| Ohio | 1,087 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Arizona | 1,023 | March | Feb–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 988 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Maryland | 740 | April | Apr–May |
| Virginia | 680 | April | Apr–Jun |
| New York | 585 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Tennessee | 567 | April | Mar–Jun |
| North Carolina | 511 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Georgia | 498 | April | Mar–May |
| Washington | 462 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Florida | 453 | April | Nov–May |
| Massachusetts | 387 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Colorado | 379 | May | Apr–Jul |
| New Jersey | 324 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Wisconsin | 323 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Alabama | 314 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Oregon | 308 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Minnesota | 272 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Michigan | 271 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Utah | 270 | May | Apr–May |
| Indiana | 249 | May | Apr–May |
| Nevada | 244 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Louisiana | 243 | September | Mar–Oct |
| Missouri | 212 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Idaho | 205 | May | Apr–Jul |
| New Mexico | 195 | April | Mar–May |
| South Carolina | 194 | April | Mar–May |
| Arkansas | 192 | May | Mar–Jun |
| Connecticut | 182 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Kansas | 163 | April | Apr–May |
| Oklahoma | 149 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Montana | 145 | June | May–Aug |
| Nebraska | 145 | May | May–Jun |
| Vermont | 127 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Kentucky | 113 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Mississippi | 105 | April | Mar–May |
| West Virginia | 91 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Iowa | 76 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Rhode Island | 68 | April | Apr–Jul |
| New Hampshire | 60 | May | Apr–Jul |
| District of Columbia | 51 | April | Apr–May |
| South Dakota | 51 | May | May–May |
| Wyoming | 44 | May | May–Jul |
| Delaware | 26 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Alaska | 20 | May | May–Jun |
| Maine | 18 | May | Apr–May |
| North Dakota | 17 | June | May–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Swallows and Martins)
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Northern Rough-winged Swallow?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to June.
Where is Northern Rough-winged Swallow most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Illinois, Texas.