Hirundo javanica
The Pacific Swallow, Hirundo javanica, is a small, agile passerine renowned for its aerial insectivory and distinctive appearance. Averaging 13-14 cm in length with a wingspan of 25-30 cm, adults display glossy blue-black upperparts that shimmer in sunlight, contrasting sharply with a rufous forehead, chin, and throat, often fading to a pale, sometimes dusky, underbelly. A narrow, dark breast band can sometimes be observed, though often incomplete or absent. Its deeply forked tail, a hallmark...
This adaptable species thrives in open country, grasslands, agricultural areas, urban environments, and coastal regions, often near water bodies. It can be found from sea level up to moderate elevations in mountainous terrain.
The diet of the Pacific Swallow consists almost exclusively of flying insects, which it captures adroitly on the wing. It primarily feeds on small flies, beetles, moths, ants, and other aerial invertebrates.
Pacific Swallows are diurnal birds, highly active from dawn to dusk, often forming large, noisy communal roosts in reeds, trees, or under bridges at night. Their primary foraging strategy is hawking insects directly from the air, employing incredibly agile and swift flight to capture prey. During...
The Pacific Swallow boasts a vast and fragmented distribution across a broad swathe of the Indo-Pacific region, primarily resident in many areas. Its breeding range extends from the Andaman Islands, through mainland Southeast Asia (including Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia), ...
Least Concern
- Pacific Swallows are exceptionally agile fliers, capable of sudden changes in direction and speed, enabling them to catch fast-moving insect prey mid-air with remarkable precision. - They are one of the most widespread swallow species across Southeast Asia and Oceania, demonstrating incredible ...