White-collared Swift (Streptoprocne zonaris)
White-collared Swift, Canastra, Minas Gerais, Brazil, April 2001 - click for larger image Serra da Canastra, Minas Gerais, Brazil
April 2001

The White-collared Swift is the largest swift to be found in Brazil. It looks all black apart from its distinctive white collar. Like all swifts it is an extremely fast flier and can probably reach 100 km/hour in flat flight and 150 km/hour in a steep dive. This makes it tricky to photograph!
It is fairly widespread from Mexico and the Caribbean to Bolivia, Argentina and Brazil. However, it is largely absent from extensive flat areas such as Amazonia because it requires caves and cliffs, preferably near waterfalls, to sleep and to nest.

There are illustrations in HBW, Volume 5, Pages 400 and 418; and Sick, Plate 19.
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