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The Pacific swallow is a small passerine bird in the swallow family Hirundinidae. It breeds in tropical southern Asia and the islands of the south Pacific. It is resident apart from some local seasonal movements. This bird is associated with coasts, but is increasingly spreading to forested uplands. It was formerly treated as conspecific with hill swallow, the welcome swallow and the Tahiti swallow.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
This species is a small swallow at 13 cm (5.1 in) in length. It has a blue-black back and crown with browner wings and tail, a red face and throat, and dusky underparts. It differs from the barn swallow and the closely related welcome swallow in its shorter and less forked tail.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in December · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Wire-tailed SwallowHirundo smithiiThe wire-tailed swallow is a small swallow, measuring 18 cm (7.1 in) in length.
White-throated SwallowHirundo albigularisThe white-throated swallow is 14–17 cm long.
Side by side: Barn Swallow vs Pacific Swallow · Pacific Swallow vs Welcome Swallow · Pacific Swallow vs Wire-tailed Swallow · Pacific Swallow vs White-throated Swallow
Learn the Pacific Swallow for real
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