White-naped Swift (Streptoprocne semicollaris)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

White-naped Swift

Streptoprocne semicollaris (de Saussure, HLF, 1859)

20–25 cmLength175 gWeight

The white-naped swift (Streptoprocne semicollaris) is the largest representative of the swift family in the New World and one of the two largest species in the world.

Busiest months: May · Most records: Mexico

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

White-naped Swift has been recorded at 14 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 1 country or region.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Reserva Ecológica Sierra de San Juan – La NoriaMexico42 records
  2. Reserva de La Chara PintaMexico36 records
  3. Jardín Botánico del Instituto de Biología UNAMMexico18 records
More places
  1. TecuitataMexico12 records
  2. ANP Bosque de TlalpanMexico8 records
  3. Rio La TovaraMexico6 records
  4. Playa YelapaMexico5 records
  5. Camino SingaytaMexico5 records
  6. Estero El YugoMexico4 records
  7. Bosque de Chapultepec – Segunda SecciónMexico3 records

Countries and regions with the most records

Mexico

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The white-naped swift (Streptoprocne semicollaris) is the largest representative of the swift family in the New World and one of the two largest species in the world. Only the purple needletail of Asia may be slightly larger. This bird is found principally in western and central Mexico, with one record on the Guatemalan border.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the White-naped Swift?

The White-naped Swift is about 20–25 cm long and weighs around 175 g.

Where does the White-naped Swift live?

Its breeding range: Middle America: western Mexico. It is most often recorded in Mexico.

When is the best time to see the White-naped Swift?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in May (Northern Hemisphere).

Is the White-naped Swift endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the White-naped Swift as Least Concern.

What does the White-naped Swift eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the White-naped Swift in?

It belongs to the family Swifts (Apodidae), order Apodiformes.

At a glance

Length
20–25 cm
Weight
175 g
Habitat
Forest
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Feeds in the air
Migration
Partial migrant
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
222 mm
Tail
73 mm
Bill
16 mm
Tarsus
28 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Middle America: western Mexico

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Swifts Apodidae
Genus
Streptoprocne

Other birds in the genus Streptoprocne

Tepui SwiftTepui SwiftStreptoprocne phelpsiChestnut-collared SwiftChestnut-collared SwiftStreptoprocne rutilaWhite-collared SwiftWhite-collared SwiftStreptoprocne zonarisBiscutate SwiftBiscutate SwiftStreptoprocne biscutataSpot-fronted SwiftSpot-fronted SwiftCypseloides cherrieiWhite-chinned SwiftWhite-chinned SwiftCypseloides cryptusWhite-fronted SwiftWhite-fronted SwiftCypseloides storeriSooty SwiftSooty SwiftCypseloides fumigatusRothschild's SwiftRothschild's SwiftCypseloides rothschildiAmerican Black SwiftAmerican Black SwiftCypseloides niger
White-naped Swift

Download illustration

Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Alvaro Rivera Rojas (brújula de aves). ↗

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