Pacific Swift

Pacific Swift

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: Common 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.

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Pacific Swift Apus pacificus
Estimated average number of individuals by week based on eBird data, Jul 2014 to Jun 2024
Peak week Oct 22-Oct 28
Early date 22 Jul 2017
Late date 20 May 1989
A fixture at raptor migration hotspots in Oct and Nov. With some effort (and very good photos), you may be able to pick out a Cook's Swift, which has not yet been recorded in Singapore as of Sep 2022.
Pacific Swift at Jelutong Tower. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Pacific Swift at Jelutong Tower. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Pacific Swift at Jelutong Tower. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Pacific Swift at Henderson Waves. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Pacific Swift at Jelutong Tower. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Pacific Swift at Bukit Timah Summit. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Pacific Swift at Henderson Waves. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Pacific Swift at Henderson Waves. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Pacific Swift at Jelutong Tower. Photo credit: Francis Yap

External Links:

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

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Pacific Swift. Retrieved on June 9, 2025 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/pacific-swift.

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