White-collared Swift

Streptoprocne zonarisOrder: APODIFORMES Family: Swifts (Apodidae)

Codes: Common Name: WCSW Scientific Name: STRZON ITIS Taxonomic No.: 178023

Breeding Location:

Forests, coniferous, Grassland with scattered trees, Mountains, Streams, upland

Breeding Type:

Monogamous, Colonial

Breeding Population:

Accidental in North America

Egg Color:

White, sometimes nest stained

Number of Eggs:

Incubation Days:

16 - 28

Egg Incubator:

Both sexes

Nest Material:

Mud, moss and insect exoskeletons.

Migration:

Nonmigratory

General

White-collared Swift: Very large swift, gray-black overall with blue gloss on breast and back. White collar is distinct. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

White-collared Swift: Accidental in North America. Preferred habitats include mountains, coniferous forests, open forests, and grasslands with scattered trees.

Breeding and Nesting

White-collared Swift: Two white eggs, sometimes nest-stained, are laid in a nest made of mud, moss, and insect exoskeletons. Incubation ranges from 16 to 28 days and is carried out by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

White-collared Swift: Feeds on flying insects, including bees and wasps; catches food while in flight.

Vocalization

White-collared Swift: Makes a loud, screeching "chee-chee-chee" as well as chattering; often heard before it is seen.

Similar Species

White-collared Swift: White-throated Swift is much smaller, has dark upperparts, and white underparts with black underwing linings.

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

White-collared Swift

White-collared Swift: Very large swift, gray-black overall with blue gloss on breast and back. White collar is distinct. Bill, legs and feet are black. The flight is strong and fast. Rapid shallow wing beats followed with long glides. Soars on thermals and updrafts, ranging many miles daily to feed.

● Song: "chee-chee-chee"

● Foraging & Feeding: White-collared Swift: Feeds on flying insects, including bees and wasps; catches food while in flight.

● Breeding & nesting: White-collared Swift: Two white eggs, sometimes nest-stained, are laid in a nest made of mud, moss, and insect exoskeletons. Incubation ranges from 16 to 28 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: White-collared Swift: White-throated Swift is much smaller, has dark upperparts, and white underparts with black underwing linings.

Flight Pattern

Strong fast powerful flight.

● Range & Habitat: White-collared Swift: Accidental in North America. Preferred habitats include mountains, coniferous forests, open forests, and grasslands with scattered trees.

^BreedingMonogamous, Colonial

^PopulationAccidental in North America

^MigrationNonmigratory

^Weight3.5 Ounces

Breast

The upper front part of a bird.

Collar

Similar to the upper part of the human neck, located at the back of the crown.

4 and 6 letter alpha codes

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

Field Guide to Birds of North America