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Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swift
(Apus pacificus)
: "Pacific Swift", "Australian Swift", "White-belted Swift",
"Large White-rumped Swift", "Siberian White-rumped Swift",
"Migrant Swift"
Aboriginal name(s): "wirntjala" [tjapwurrung]
Size: 17-18 cm
Weight: 26-52 g
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swifts are large, slender swifts. Their underside
(front) is dappled dark grey-brown, with a greyish throat.
The long, narrow tail can be seen forked, but is adjustable and
sometimes seen as one narrow tip. The underwings show dark-brown
coverts and greyish-brown flight feathers. In flight they have
the appearance of a narrow sickle. The top side (back) is mostly
dark greyish-brown, with a light-grey rump. The flight feathers
are darker than the rest of the wings. The bill is very short
and the irises are black. The legs and feet are completely
invisible in flight.
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Twitcher's tip |
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Compared with White-throated Needletails, they
have a much slimmer appearance. The wing beat is light and usually
not audible.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Fork-tailed
Swift at Wikipedia .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
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The global distribution of the Fork-tailed Swift is available
HERE
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Fork-tailed Swifts breed in the northern hemisphere, where
they are found in eastern Asia, in eastern Siberia, Japan,
Korea, Mongolia and southward throughout central and eastern
China and all of South-east Asia.
They migrate southwards via the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia,
Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and New Guinea to spend
the northern winters in Australia.
Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swifts, race "pacificus", are
non-breeding migrants to Australia from far-eastern Asia.
They can appear anywhere along the tropcial North coast, from
Exmouth, WA, in the West to Fraser Island, QLD, in the East.
To the best of our knowledge, Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swifts never set foot on
Australian soil. They are found in the air above the tropical North
of the continent, down to the geographic latitude of Exmouth in WA,
and above the eastern half of the continent, eastward of about
Lake Eyre in SA. In the eastern half of Australia they progress
to the far South, including Bass Strait and Tasmania. There are
also occasional reports of sightings in the western half and
the South coast of WA.
Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swifts are observed above a variety of habitats
on the ground, from coastal and urban areas to the open plains of the
semi-arid interior.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
A Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swift was first
spotted by us at Eulah Creek, 20 km East of
Narrabri, NSW, in December 2006. They were not found again at the same
location until November 2018. A large, extended flock stretching from
Eulah Creek to Narrabri Lake,
over a distance of 25 km and comprising hundreds of birds, was found
by us in March 2019.
C. Hayne reports that Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swifts are spotted
occasionally in
the Moree township, where they have a preference for open areas. Seen
more often at Whittaker's Lagoon, 20 km West of
Moree, and farther downstream along the Mehi River. They are spotted
most regularly during periods of clear skies (e.g. April 2009, November
2011, October-December 2012, February 2013). In February 2013, a flock
of about 30 Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swifts were observed together with at least 3
White-throated Needletails
(which are rarely found above the open plains). They are spotted more
regularly around Ashley, NSW, with several sightings every season
and in January 2014 also at Terry Hie Hie, NSW. Hundreds of Fork-tailed
Swifts were seen by C. Hayne again above the township of Moree in
November 2014.
In December 2012 approximately 20 Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swifts were observed
by us hunting in an updraught on the western slopes of the Nandewar
Range, Mt. Kaputar NP,
at an altitude of about 1600 m, together with a flock of roughly 200
White-browed Woodswallows.
H. Mouritsen spotted 4 Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swifts at
Kakadu NP in
October 2015.
In March 2016 we spotted a small number of Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swifts
at Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW.
B. Hensen reports spotting Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swifts
above Tiwi, NT, in October 2018 and above Nakara, Darwin, NT, in November
2018.
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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Frontal view of a Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swift in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2019]
Ventral view of a Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swift in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2019]
Near-lateral/ventral Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swift (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Whittaker's Lagoon, 20 km West of Moree, NSW,
February 2013]
Lateral/ventral view of a Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swift in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2018]
Lateral/ventral view of a Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swift in flight;
this bird may be flying with dangling feet
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2019]
Lateral view of a Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swift, showing the
speed at which the bird was flying (and the difficulty of
tracking it)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2019]
Lateral view of a Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swift in flight, wings down
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Tiwi, NT, October 2018]
Lateral view of a Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swift in flight, wings up
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Tiwi, NT, October 2018]
Dorsal/ventral view of a Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swift in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2018]
Ventral view of a moulting Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swift that is
missing some of its primaries (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Terry Hie Hie, NSW, January 2014]
Overview of Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swifts circling together
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2019]
Distant overview of a flock of Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swifts
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2019]
Social behaviour: Communal |
Mobility: Migratory |
Elementary unit: FLock |
Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swifts hunting together with a flock of
White-browed Woodswallows
[Mt. Kaputar NP,
NSW, December 2012]


Examples of how Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swifts can shape their tails:
forked, top,
partly fanned, centre,
and fully fanned, bottom
(photos courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Tiwi, NT, October 2018]
Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swifts have been observed by us hunting together with
White-browed Woodswallows.
Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swifts hunting together with a flock of White-browed Woodswallows
[Mt. Kaputar NP,
NSW, December 2012]
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Food, Diet |
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Like other swifts, Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swifts are insect hunters. They
catch and devour their prey on the wing.
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Call(s)/Song |
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For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own; are welcome.
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors.
The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.