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Pacific Swallow

From Opus

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Photo by Romy Ocon
Location: UP-Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines

Hirundo tahitica

Includes: Hill Swallow

1 Identification
- 1.1 Similar Species
2 Distribution
3 Taxonomy
4 Habitat
5 Behaviour
6 External Links

[edit] Identification

14cm. Sexes similar. Blue back, brown wings and tail, red face and throat, dusky underparts.

[edit] Similar Species

Similar to Barn Swallow and Welcome Swallow but is shorter and the tail is less forked. Juveniles are browner.

[edit] Distribution

South India to Japan and the Philippines, New Guinea and Tahiti.

[edit] Taxonomy

Several subspecies.
Domicola from southern India is sometimes split as Hill Swallow.

[edit] Habitat

Coasts, but is increasingly spreading to forested uplands.

[edit] Behaviour

Diet includes insects, especially flies, while airborne. Call: high pitched tweet in alarm; otherwise a cheerful twittering. They build nests of mud and pellets combined with dry grasses on vertical surfaces with overhangs. 3 white eggs with brown spots are laid.