SWALLOWS: Family Hirundinidae [ 409 ] 



Nest: A burrow excavated in a perpendicular bank (Plate 72.). Eggs: 3 to 6, white. 

 DISTRIBUTION. Central: Breeds from southern British Columbia, Montana, North 

 Dakota, Minnesota, central Wisconsin, Ontario, New York, and western Massa- 

 chusetts south to southern United States and Mexico. Winters in Mexico and 

 Central America. In Oregon: Fairly common summer resident and breeding species. 



IT is our own observation that Rough-winged Swallows are more widely 

 distributed than Bank Swallows and are scattered in colonies of a few 

 pairs or as single pairs nesting in earthen banks rather than being as- 

 sembled in great aggregations. They are present from April (earliest 

 date, April 7, Lane County) to August (latest date, August 2.8, Harney 

 County). The little dull-colored birds are easily distinguishable from all 

 other swallows except the Bank Swallows. As many observers do not 

 distinguish between these two species, some of the records of each may 

 apply to the other. In the hand or at rest, however, these two are also 

 easily recognizable, but on the wing it often takes keen eyes to deter- 

 mine surely whether the distinct dark breast band of the Bank Swallow 

 is present or only the indistinct shading of the Rough-wing. In habits 

 and manner of flight, the two are very similar. Both birds spend much 

 time wheeling about near the low banks in which the nests are located, 

 and in the summer both mingle with the great swallow swarms, of which 

 they are usually an inconspicuous part. 



Merrill (1888) first reported the Rough-winged Swallow for the State, 

 from Fort Klamath. Keller (1892^) found it at Salem, and Woodcock 

 (1901) listed it from Yaquina Bay, Portland, Salem, and Corvallis. Miller 

 (1904) recorded it from Wheeler County, and Shelton (1917) considered 

 it common in west-central Oregon. Peck (191 la) included it in his list 

 from northern Malheur County, as did Walker (19x4) from Tillamook. 

 Gabrielson (i9i4a) found it to be common in Wallowa County, and in 

 our Birds of the Portland Area (Jewett and Gabrielson 192.9) we included 

 it as a regular summer resident and reported two nests dug out by Jewett 

 on June 2.3 and 2.8, one of which contained a large young bird and the 

 other an addled egg. We have not excavated other nests but know the 

 young birds are generally on the wing in early July, which would bring 

 the height of the egg-laying period around the first of June. 



Barn Swallow: 



Hirundo erythrogaster Boddaert 



DESCRIPTION.- "Tail forked for about half its length, outside feather tapered to 

 point; tarsus shorter than middle toe and claw; upper part feathered. Adults: under 

 parts tawny brown; darkest on throat; forehead dark brown, rest of upper parts glossy 

 steel blue; wings and tail tinged with purple and green; tail feathers except middle 

 pair marked with large whitish spots. Young: fork of tail shorter; upper parts 

 paler, under parts duller, brown of forehead indistinct or wanting; throat and chest 

 light rusty. Length: 5.75-7.75, wing 4.60-4.90, tail 3.70-4.10, forked in adult male 



