Tahiti Swallow
Hirundo tahitica
洋燕
Introduction
Small passerine bird in the swallow family Hirundinidae. Endemic to the islands of Moorea and Tahiti in French Polynesia. Formerly considered conspecific with the Pacific swallow (Hirundo javanica) until morphological differences led to species split. Monotypic with no recognized subspecies. Exhibits typical swallow behavior as an aerial insectivore.
Description
Small swallow measuring 13 cm (5.1 in) in length. Upperparts are blue-black on the back and crown. Wings and tail are brown. Face and throat are red. Underparts are dusky. Overall plumage resembles other tropical swallows but with more muted coloring than some congeners.
Identification
Distinguished from the barn swallow by its shorter and less forked tail. Also differs from the closely related welcome swallow in tail shape, being shorter and less deeply forked. More compact appearance overall compared to migratory Hirundo species.
Distribution & Habitat
Restricted to the islands of Moorea and Tahiti in the Society Islands of French Polynesia. Inhabits both lowland and inland areas including around human settlements. No migratory movements documented.
Behavior & Ecology
Aerial insectivore that feeds on insects, especially flies, captured while in flight. Builds a neat cup-shaped nest constructed with mud pellets collected in the beak. Nest sites include cliff ledges and man-made structures such as buildings, bridges, and tunnels. Nest is lined with softer material. Clutch consists of two to three eggs. Similar in behavior to other swallows and swifts.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Hirundinidae
- Genus
- Hirundo
- eBird Code
- pacswa5
Distribution
Moorea and Tahiti (Society Islands, east-central Polynesia)
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.