Biscutate Swift Streptoprocne biscutata Scientific name definitions

A very large, blackish brown swift with an incomplete white collar, Biscutate Swift closely resembles White-collared Swift (Streptoprocne zonaris). Biscutate Swift is much more geographically restricted, however, being found only in eastern South America, in eastern Brazil and in northeastern Argentina. This swift occurs in a wide range of habitats such as montane or submontane, evergreen forests, southern temperate forests, tropical deciduous forests and second-growth scrub. Biscutate Swift spends most of the day on the wing, in groups, hunting for flying insects. Biscutate Swift nests on horizontal ledges in dry caverns. It's migratory movements are not fully understood, but the species is believed to be at least partially migratory. Not currently threatened, and common within its range, it has been suggested that Biscutate Swift requires more thorough monitoring to fully understand its population stability.