Photo: Joseph Wolf & J.W.Wood / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Biscutate Swift
Streptoprocne biscutata
Biscutate Swift (Streptoprocne biscutata) — Swifts of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Biscutate Swift (Streptoprocne biscutata) is a member of the Apodidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 95.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Apodidae Swifts
- Genus Streptoprocne
- Species biscutata
Quick facts
- Weight
- 95.8 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Apodidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Biscutate Swift is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Biscutate Swift is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Biscutate Swift (Streptoprocne biscutata) is a species of bird in the Apodidae family, part of the order Apodiformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA e.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 95.8 g, with a wing length of about 19.2 cm and a tail of around 6.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Biscutate Swift?
The Biscutate Swift is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 95.8 g.
Where does the Biscutate Swift live?
The Biscutate Swift is found across South America with a range covering SA e, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Biscutate Swift belong to?
The Biscutate Swift (Streptoprocne biscutata) belongs to the Apodidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Biscutate Swift eat?
The Biscutate Swift is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Biscutate Swift migrate?
The Biscutate Swift is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Biscutate Swift endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Biscutate Swift make?
1 real field recording of the Biscutate Swift — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Biscutate Swift's range?
The Biscutate Swift has a mapped global range of about 1.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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