Biscutate Swift

Streptoprocne biscutata

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernInvertebratesForestCup nestMedium · 96 g

ID tip

The biscutate swift is about 22 cm (8.7 in) long and weighs about 115 g (4.1 oz). It has an almost square tail and the sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a sooty brown head that is lighter on the forehead, chin, and around the eyes. Their body is sooty blackish brown except for a wide white band across the breast and a narrow white band on the nape and somewhat on the sides of the neck; the bands do not meet. The wing and tail feathers are blackish on their outer webs and pale gray brown on the inner ones. Voice: The biscutate swift's principal vocalization is described as "chee chee chee chee chee..." or "weep-weep-weep".

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Biscutate Swift

One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 7 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is October, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Biscutate Swift

Regular rangeRare visitor

The map shades 1 country with regular records, and 1 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

Recorded as a rare visitor in Argentina.

About the Biscutate Swift

The biscutate swift is a species of bird in subfamily Cypseloidinae of the swift family Apodidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and possibly Paraguay.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

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