Rough-winged Swallow ( Stelgidopteryx ruficollis )

14 cm. The legs, beak and the neck are short. The throat is red, contrasting with the fuliginous sides of the head, the back and the chest that is lighter. The belly is pale yellow. The last feather of the male’s wing is rough.
Distribution:
From Panama to Argentina. Migrates in the south.
Habitat:
Open landscapes and cities, generally near the water.
Diet:
Feeds on insects it catches when flying.
Reproduction:
Builds a nest digging holes in slopes, sometimes in colonies. Lays three to six white eggs. The couple sleeps together in the nest, but only the female incubates. The couple takes turns to feed the brood. When the offspring leave the nest they remain nearby for some time as a family.
Natural history:
Lives in small grous. Perches on dead branches or on wires. Becomes very excited at twilight, making a lot of noise until it finds a place to sleep. The migrating flocks sleep in tall grass and sugar cane crops. Although it is associated to water, abandons polluted rivers and lakes, becoming rare in some regions.