Betula occidentalis Betula occidentalis Betula occidentalis, the water birch or red birch, is a species of birch native to western North America, in Canada from Yukon east to western Ontario and southwards, and in the United States from eastern Washington east to western North Dakota, and south to eastern California, northern Arizona and northern New Mexico, and southwestern Alaska. It typically occurs along streams in mountainous regions. It is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing to high, usually with multiple trunks. The bark is dark red-brown to blackish, and smooth but not exfoliating. The twigs are glabrous or thinly hairy, and
Northern rough-winged swallow 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". The genus name, "Stelgidopteryx", is from Ancient Greek and means "scraper wing" and the species name, "serripennis", is derived from Latin and means "saw feather". In the common name, "rough-winged" refers to the serrated edge feathers on the wing of this bird; this feature would only be apparent when holding this bird. Six subspecies of the northern rough-winged swallow are currently recognized. It has been proposed that another race be recognized, "aphracta", but this is