Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Pacific Swallow
Hirundo javanica
Pacific Swallow (Hirundo javanica) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Pacific Swallow (Hirundo javanica) is a member of the Hirundinidae family found in Australia & Oceania, Oceans & Seabirds and South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 17.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Hirundinidae Swallows, Martins
- Genus Hirundo
- Species javanica
Where it lives
Southeastern Asia to New Guinea and western, central Micronesia
Quick facts
- Weight
- 17.8 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Hirundinidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Pacific Swallow is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of coastal habitats, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Pacific Swallow is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Pacific Swallow (Hirundo javanica) is a species of bird in the Hirundinidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania, Oceans & Seabirds and South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR, AU, PO se Asia to New Guinea and w, c Micronesia.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 17.8 g, with a wing length of about 10.6 cm and a tail of around 4.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3.4 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Pacific Swallow?
The Pacific Swallow is a small bird that weighs around 17.8 g.
Where does the Pacific Swallow live?
The Pacific Swallow is found across Australia & Oceania, Oceans & Seabirds and South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR, AU, PO se Asia to New Guinea and w, c Micronesia, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Pacific Swallow belong to?
The Pacific Swallow (Hirundo javanica) belongs to the Hirundinidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Pacific Swallow eat?
The Pacific Swallow is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Pacific Swallow migrate?
The Pacific Swallow is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Pacific Swallow endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Pacific Swallow's range?
The Pacific Swallow has a mapped global range of about 3.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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