White-winged Swallow (Tachycineta albiventer)
White-winged Swallow, Caxiuanã, Pará, Brazil, November 2005 - click for a larger image Brazil

The White-winged Swallow is fairly common in Amazonia where it is found close to large rivers and lakes. Beyond Amazonia it is found from Panama to northern Argentina except to the west of the Andes.

It is the only South American swallow with white patches on the wings.

White-winged Swallow, Thaimaçu, Pará, Brazil, April 2003 - click for a larger image It is glossy blue green above and, when not breeding, it can look a lot greener. The underparts and rump are brilliant white.

It perches on branches above water and catches insects flying fairly low and close to the surface of the water.

White-winged Swallow, Thaimaçu, Pará, Brazil, April 2003 - click for a larger image Note the apparent change in colour from a sunny day in photo 1 to a dull day in photo 3.

There are illustration ins Hilty & Brown, Plate 40; Ridgely & Tudor, Volume 1, Plate 2; and Sick, Plate 36.

White-winged Swallow, River Javarí, Peru, September 2003 - click for a larger image
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