Swift which is blackish above with a white rump, long sickle-shaped wings and a deeply forked tail. It is dark brown below, with whitish fringes to the breast and belly feathers and a grayish throat. The Pacific Swift makes buzzing and twittering sounds and long, high-pitched squeaks.
Not Threatened.
Swift which is blackish above with a white rump, long sickle-shaped wings and a deeply forked tail. It is dark brown below, with whitish fringes to the breast and belly feathers and a grayish throat. The Pacific Swift makes buzzing and twittering sounds and long, high-pitched squeaks.
17-18 cm, male 42 g, female 44.5 g
Taxonomy:
- Hirundo pacifica Latham, 1801, New South Wales. Forms superspecies with A. acuticauda, with which in past occasionally considered conspecific. Four subspecies recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * pacificus (Latham, 1801) - Siberia E to Kamchatka and Japan, S to N China and S Japan; winters in Indonesia, Melanesia, Australia and possibly NE India (Assam, Nagaland, Manipur). * kanoi Yamashina, 1942 - SE Tibet E to Taiwan; winters in Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia. * leuconyx (Blyth, 1845) - outer Himalayas and Assam hills; winters in India. * cooki (Harington, 1913) - SE Asia; winters S to N peninsular Thailand.
Occurs over a range of habitats (both breeding and wintering) including lowlands around human habitations and over mountain forests. It is seen in small to large flocks, including mixed flocks with other swifts. Recorded breding at 2300 m.
Nominate race long-distance migrant, while 3 more S races mainly resident or short-distance migrant.
Feeding on a variety of flying insects (9 insect order) captured on the wing. Typically forages higher that congeners. Gregarious, regularyl in large flocks.
Breeds in Nepal, Himalaya - Mar-Jun. The nest is a half-cup of vegetable matter glued together with saliva, placed within a fissure on a cliff, in a cave, under a bridge or under the eave of a building. The female lays 1-3 eggs, and both parents participate in all parental duties. Nominate race long-distance migrant, while 3 more S races mainly resident or short-distance migrant.