Biscutate Swift

About the Biscutate Swift

The biscutate swift (Streptoprocne biscutata) is a species of bird in subfamily Cypseloidinae of the swift family Apodidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and possibly Paraguay. The biscutate swift has two subspecies, the nominate S. b. biscutata and S. b. seridoensis.

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. Juveniles are similar to adults with the addition of grayish white edges to the belly feathers and the tips of the tail. Subspecies S. b. seridoensis has essentially the same plumage as the nominate but is smaller.

The nominate subspecies of biscutate swift is found from Minas Gerais in southeastern... Wikipedia →