Swallow, Kyoto, Japan (1 Viewer)

A bit belated, but while doing some other reading on websites, I came across the fact that apparently Pacific Swallows are found in Japan, in addition to the Barn Swallows I'd assumed all the birds I'd seen there last July had been. I did have one (poor) photo which I'd thought odd for a lack of a dark breast-band below the red, but dismissed it as either the local race of the barn swallow or perhaps a juvenile. But having seen this I thought I better get this checked out, as I can't really find much information on Pacific Swallows in Japan, as I presume most of it would be in Japanese. I may well just have barn swallows in the photo, but may as well ask!

Thanks for any help!

Barn Swallows for me, the red throat and upper breast is bordered by blue on the side, the lower edge also, this is absent or much reduced in Pacific.

http://ibc.lynxeds.com/files/pictures/IMG_9375._Pacific_Swallow_5_7_DxO_63.jpg

Agree with Mark. Although the odd birds get to Kyushu, the usual Japanese range of Pacific runs from Okinawa southward.

I agree with Mark on his ID reasoning, but also apparently the East Asian race has "smokey-brown underparts". As far as distribution goes both IUCN, M. Brazil and the Handbook of Swallows and Martins of the World all show (and discuss) the bird only occurring as far north as the Ryu Kyu islands (though with a population size of 10,000-100,000 birds, and apparently expanding in range).