Streptoprocne biscutata
The Biscutate Swift (Streptoprocne biscutata) is a robust, large aerial insectivore, averaging 22 cm (8.7 in) in length, endemic to the subtropical forests and rocky cliffs of southeastern South America. Its plumage is uniformly sooty black, providing a striking contrast to its most distinctive field mark: two prominent white patches on the flanks, just below the wings, which often meet to form a broken or continuous band across the lower back or rump, highly visible during its powerful fligh...
Subtropical and tropical moist montane and lowland forests, preferring areas with rocky cliffs, canyons, and especially waterfalls for roosting and nesting, typically between 100-1500 meters elevation.
Exclusively aerial insectivores, consuming a wide variety of flying insects including beetles, ants, termites, bees, wasps, and flies, caught deftly mid-air.
Highly gregarious, Biscutate Swifts spend nearly their entire lives on the wing, only landing to nest or roost. They form vast, noisy colonies, often numbering in the thousands, which frequently choose inaccessible and spectacular locations such as ledges behind large waterfalls or within deep, d...
The Biscutate Swift is endemic to southeastern South America, exhibiting a somewhat discontinuous distribution primarily across southeastern Brazil, from the state of Rio Grande do Sul north through Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, and Minas Gerais. Its range als...
Least Concern
- The "biscutate" in its name refers to the two distinctive white patches on its flanks, a key identifier in flight. - They are highly social birds, forming vast colonies that can number in the thousands, especially at communal roosts. - These swift colonies often choose incredible roosting and n...