June 12, 2026: This Northern Rough-winged Swallow pauses briefly with a freshly caught small beetle. These agile aerial hunters spend much of the breeding season catching flying insects over ponds and fields, often making frequent trips to a nearby nest.

This delightful image captures a Northern Rough-winged Swallow with a freshly captured beetle, highlighting the species’ remarkable aerial hunting skills. Feeding almost exclusively on flying insects during the breeding season, Northern Rough-winged Swallows spend much of the day coursing over ponds, marshes, beaches, and open fields, deftly snatching prey in flight. The insect held in this bird’s bill may be destined for a nest nearby, where hungry nestlings require a steady supply of protein-rich meals throughout the day.