White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris

Brazilian name: Taperuçu-de-coleira-branca
White-collared Swift, Canastra, Minas Gerais, Brazil, April 2001 - click for larger image Brazil

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!
White-collared Swift, Fazenda Michelin, Ituberá, Bahia, Brazil, November 2008 - click for larger image 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 recordings on xeno-canto, a distribution map from NatureServe and additional information available via Avibase. There is a page in Portuguese on Wikiaves.
White-collared Swift, Fazenda Michelin, Ituberá, Bahia, Brazil, November 2008 - click for larger image

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