Scientific Name: Apus pacificus
Malay Name: Layang-layang Sabit Asia Timur
Chinese Name: 白腰雨燕
Alternative Name(s): Fork-tailed Swift (old)
Range: Found from Siberia, China, Japan, Korea to Taiwan, wintering and passage migrant to Hong Kong, mainland Southeast Asia, Indonesia and Australia.
Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: pacificus, kanoi.
Local Subspecies: pacificus
Size: 18-19.5 cm
Identification: Brownish upperpart plumage, long sickle-shaped wings and sharply forked tail separate it from House Swift. Distinguished from the similar looking Asian Palm Swift by its larger size, whitish throat and diagnostic white-rump band.
Similar looking species: Grey-rumped Treeswift, Asian Palm Swift, House Swift, Common Swift
Habitat: Open habitat and forested areas.
Behaviour/Ecology: Feed on small insects egs. bees, wasps, termites, moths and flies taken in flight.
Local Status: Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant.
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2019)
Location: Central Catchment Forest, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Punggol Barat, Southern Ridges, Tuas South, Pulau Ubin and Singapore Straits.
- Pelagic Bird Survey to the Horsburgh Lighthouse – 29 April 2017 (Trip Reports)
- Pelagic Bird Survey at the Singapore Strait – 15 October 2016 (Trip Reports)
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Pacific Swift)
References:
BirdLife International. (2019). Apus pacificus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22686845A155438660.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.
RECOMMENDED CITATION
Singapore Birds Project. (n.d.). Pacific Swift. Retrieved on March 27, 2023 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/pacific-swift.