Birds of Indiana. 999 



148. Gksus STELGIDOPTEKiX Baird. 



*242. (617). Stelgidopteryx serripennia (Aud.). 



BiOvtgb.-vrin.ged. S'waUow. 

 Synonym, Bank Swallow. 



AdulL — Ahave, lustreless bro^wjoish-gray; quilk and tail feathers, 

 dusky-broTTii; below, light gray, whitish on belly and crissum; the 

 edge oi the wing supplied with small hooks, which are rough to the 

 touch; no tuft of feathers above the himd toe. Immature. — With more 

 or less of rufous tinge; lacking small hooks on the edge of wing. 



Length, 4.75-5.50; wing, 3.70-4.35; tail, 3.10-2.25. 



Eange. — Morth America, from Panama to Connecticut, southern 

 Ontario, Michigan, southern Montana and British Columbia. Breeds 

 throughout its range. Winters from South Carolina and Mexico 

 south. 



Nest, in a burrow which it excavates in a steep bank, in openings 

 in walls, in cavities about bridges and buildings and in old buildings; 

 of grass or feathers, ^ggs, 4-8; white; .75 by .53. 



The Eough-winged Swallow is a summer resident throughout the 

 State, frequenting principally such places as the Bank Swallow loves. 

 It is, however, not so numerous as that well-known species. In the 

 northern part of the State it is rare, and in many localities wanting. 

 Because of the general lack of metallic lustre to the upper plumage, 

 they are not usually distinguished. But this species may be known 

 by its grayish throat and breast. While they breed together, excavat- 

 ing burrows in the same bank, I have observed that the single holes 

 away from the colony contained nests of the "present species. They 

 also nest in open Joints in masonry, the- foundations of buildings, 

 mortises, holes in the sides of buildings and even* within buildings, 

 where the nest is placed on. a, beam. Dr. Eufus Haym^nd was one of 

 the first to call attention to the E<ojiigh-wiiiged Swallow beginning to 

 change its nesting habits (Field and Forest, Vol. I., 1876, p. 88; also, 



E. CoTies, Bulletin iKTiutt. Om.. Club, Vol. I., 187€, p. 96, and American 

 Naturalist, Viol. X., 1876, pp. 49.2, 493). The Bank Swallow has never 

 attempted to find a better nesting site than a sandy bank. 



I have found them mating as early as April 35, 1881. Prof. B. W. 

 Evermann found nests nearly completed at Gosport, May 8, 1886. Dr. 



F. W. Langdon says: "Of a dozen or more nests_ of this species, taken 

 at Madisonville, 0., May SO-.Sl, 1879, those from inland situations 

 (along creeks and bridges) were complete in number (5 to 7) and well 



