Pacific Swallow

Order - Passeriformes
Family - Hirundinidae (Swallows and Martins)

Pacific Swallow

Hirundo javanica

洋燕 (yáng yàn) / 洋斑燕 (yáng bān yàn)

    Malay : Layang-layang Biasa

    Japanese : リュウキュウツバメ (ryūkyū tsubame)

    Kanji 日語漢字 : 琉球燕

    Extent of Occurrence (resident/breeding) : 32,000,000km²
    Migratory Status : Not a Migrant
    Breeding Endemic : No

Taxonomy update for 2013

Hirundo tahitica is split into two species, with Hill Swallow
restricted to southern India and Sri Lanka, and Pacific Swallow
occurring widely in Southeast Asia (including the Andaman
Islands of India) :

- Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica)

- Hill Swallow (Hirundo domicola)

Taxonomy update for 2024

Polytypic Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica) is split into two species,
with Polytypic Pacific Swallow in southeastern Asia from Andamans
to Ryukyu Islands southward through the Philippines and Indonesia
to New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia,
Vanuatu, Fiji, and Tonga (western Polynesia) & Tahiti Swallow in
Moorea and Tahiti. :

- Pacific Swallow (Hirundo javanica)

- Tahiti Swallow (Hirundo tahitica)

    Size : 11–14 cm; 11–19 g [11–15.5 g (javanica), 14.9 g (namiyei), 14.6–19 g (subfusca)] 

    Subspecies (6) and Distribution

• Hirundo javanica javanica (Sparrman, 1789, Java)
  – Andaman Islands and from coastal Myanmar, southern Thailand, southern Cambodia, and Cochinchina south to Sundas and Wallacea and east to Philippines.
• Identification :
  – Large white spots in tail-feathers, except the outermost pairs, form a white bar across the underside of the tail.
• Hirundo javanica namiyei (Stejneger, 1887, Urassoimagiri, Okinawa, Ryu Kyu Islands)
  – Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto) and Taiwan.
• Identification :
  – Paler blue above than javanica, with more uniformly pale underparts.
• Hirundo javanica frontalis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1832, Dorey [i.e. Manokwari], New Guinea)
  – Northern and western New Guinea.
• Identification :
  – Not well differentiated from javanica.
• Hirundo javanica ambiens (Mayr, 1934, Wide Bay, New Britain)
  – New Britain, in Bismarck Archipelago.
• Identification :
  – Underparts paler, with presence of small white spots on tail and incomplete blackish breast-band.
• Hirundo javanica subfusca (Gould, 1856, Moala, Fiji Islands)
  – New Ireland east through Solomons, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu to Fiji and Tonga.
  
• Identification :
  – Has dark gray underparts. White spots on tail are completely lacking.
• Hirundo javanica albescens (Schodde & Mason, 1999, Magarida, Amazon Bay, Papua New Guinea)
  – Southern and eastern New Guinea.
• Identification :
  – Paler ventrally than former subspecies.

Distribution Map

Hirundo javanica ssp. javanica
Date : 03 November 2018

Location : Batu Gajah, Daerah Kinta, Perak

Hirundo javanica ssp. javanica
Date : 27 May 2018

Location : Jeti Nelayan Kampung Sungai Ular, Daerah Bagan Datuk, Perak

Hirundo javanica ssp. javanica
Date : 19 May 2018

Location : Jeti Beting Beras Basah, Daerah Bagan Datuk, Perak

Hirundo javanica ssp. javanica
Date : 31 January 2018

Location : Seberang Perak Paddyfield, Daerah Perak Tengah, Perak

Hirundo javanica ssp. javanica
Date : 15 October 2017

Location : Jeti Nelayan Parit Jawa, Mukim Parit Jawa, Daerah Muar, Johor

Hirundo javanica ssp. javanica
Date : 10 June 2017

Location : Taman Negara Pahang (Sungai Relau), Merapoh, Daerah Lipis, Pahang