Photo: Richard Bowdler Sharpe / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Tahiti Swallow
Hirundo tahitica
Tahiti Swallow (Hirundo tahitica) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Oceans & Seabirds.
The Tahiti Swallow (Hirundo tahitica) is a member of the Hirundinidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. 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 tahitica
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 Tahiti 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 Tahiti Swallow is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Tahiti Swallow (Hirundo tahitica) is a species of bird in the Hirundinidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers PO Moorea and Tahiti (se Society Is., e Polynesia).
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 17.8 g, with a wing length of about 10.7 cm and a tail of around 4.9 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 1,209 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Tahiti Swallow?
The Tahiti Swallow is a small bird that weighs around 17.8 g.
Where does the Tahiti Swallow live?
The Tahiti Swallow is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering PO Moorea and Tahiti (se Society Is., e Polynesia), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Tahiti Swallow belong to?
The Tahiti Swallow (Hirundo tahitica) belongs to the Hirundinidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Tahiti Swallow eat?
The Tahiti Swallow is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Tahiti Swallow migrate?
The Tahiti Swallow is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Tahiti 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.
What sound does the Tahiti Swallow make?
1 real field recording of the Tahiti Swallow — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Tahiti Swallow's range?
The Tahiti Swallow has a mapped global range of about 1,209 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Hirundinidae
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.