Alternative name: Fork-tailed Swift
- Apus pacificus
Identification
Medium large, with deeply forked tail, sexes similar, races differ by shade of color. Upperparts blackish brown with a slight greenish gloss, rump and sides to rump white; chin and throat white; rest of underparts black with feathers tipped white creating a scaly effect. Bill and legs black; eye brown.
Similar Species
Various other white-rumped swifts. See the following for a detailed comparison: Identifying small white-rumped swifts.
Distribution
Breeds in Siberia to Kamchatka, China, Japan and Taiwan. Migrates south to Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, New Guinea, Australia and Tasmania.
Vagrants have been recorded in the european part of Russia, in Britain, Alaska and on Macquarie Island.
Common in most of its range and not globally threatened.
Taxonomy
Was formerly considered conspecific with Blyth's Swift, Cook's Swift and Salim Ali's Swift.
Subspecies
Clements recognises the following subspecies [1]:
- A. p. kurodae: (in the southern part of its breeding range) breeds southern Japan, eastern China, Taiwan, and northern Philippines (Batan Islands); winters in south-eastern Asia
- A. p. pacificus: (in the northern part of its breeding range) Siberia to Kamchatka, northern China]]]] and northern Japan; winters Indonesia, Melanesia, Australia, Tasmania
Habitat
Preferred habitats include mountains and human habitations, usually near water.
Behaviour
Highly gregarious, high flying and fast, this swift can be found flying over towns and sea coasts as well as forested mountains.
Diet
Feeds on various insects, taken in flight.
Breeding
Breeds in spring, exact time differing over range, in Japan from June to August. Nests in colonies on cliff walls, building a half-cup, made with plant parts and agglutinated together with saliva. Lays 1 to 3 eggs.
Movements
A long-distance migrant, wintering mainly in Indonesia and Australia.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2011. IOC World Bird Names (version 2.10). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Pacific Swift. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 28 April 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Pacific_Swift
