Tag Archives: Hirundinidae

Hirundo tahitensis ssp. ‘Henderson Island’

Henderson Island Swallow (Hirundo (tahitica) ssp.)

The Tahitian Swallow (Hirundo tahitica J. F. Gmelin) (see depiction below) today is restricted to the islands of Mo’orea and Tahiti, Society Islands, but once was probably more widespread as is indicated by numerous subfossil bones that were found at cave sites on the northern beach of Henderson Island, Pitcairn Islands.

The Henderson may well have been a distinct and endemic species, what is known for sure is that the bird bred on Henderson Island, since both, adult as well as juvenile bones were found. [1]

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References: 

[1] Graham M. Wragg; Marshall I. Weisler: Extinctions and new records of birds from Henderson Island. Notornis 41: 61-70. 1994

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Tahitian Swallow (Hirundo tahitica J. F. Gmelin); nominate form

Depiction from: ‘Richard Bowdler Sharpe; Claude W. Wyatt: A monograph of the Hirundinidae or the family of swallows. London: printed for the authors 1885-1894’

(public domain)

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edited: 17.10.2020

Tachycineta euchrysea ssp. euchrysea (Gosse)

Golden Swallow (Tachycineta euchrysea ssp. euchrysea)

The Golden Swallow is endemic to the Greater Antilles, where two subspecies are known from the islands of Hispaniola (Tachycineta euchrysea ssp. sclateri Cory) and Jamaica (nominate ssp.).

The species reaches a length of about 12 cm, its upperparts are very glossy bluish green, respectively golden green in the extinct nominate; the under parts are white. 

The Golden Swallow was last seen in Jamaica in 1989, it is now thought to be extinct, the reasons for its extinction are not really well known.

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In my humble opinion, the two subspecies might better be considered distinct species.

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Depiction from: ‘Richard Bowdler Sharpe; Claude W. Wyatt: A monograph of the Hirundinidae or the family of swallows. London: printed for the authors 1885-1894’  

(public domain)

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edited: 07.05.2021