Pacific Swallow

Tonsai Beach, Thailand

The Pacific swallow is a resident species in tropical southern Asia and the South Pacific islands.  The bird in this photograph was perched with several others under a limestone overhang adjacent to the beach at Tonsai, Krabi.

Habitat

The pacific swallow inhabits coast areas but is increasingly found in forested uplands and in  urban areas and around freshwater lakes.

Feeding

Like other members of the swift and swallow family, pacific swallows are adapted to catching insects in flight. Unlike swifts, swallows often perch and wait for individual insects to hunt instead of flying around with open mouths. Swallows also feed at lower altitude and engage in aerial acrobatics.

Breeding

The Pacific swallow builds a cup-shaped nest, constructed with mud pellets and located under a cliff ledge or on man-made structures such as  buildings, bridges or tunnels. The nest is lined with softer material. Pacific swallows are usually monogamous and males will aggressively defend the area around the nest and guard his mate from other males that might want to mate with her. Both parents incubate the clutch of two or threen eggs and care for the chicks.