Wire-tailed swallow

The wire-tailed swallow is a charming bird from the swallow family, renowned for its distinctive long tail feathers that resemble wires. There are two subspecies: H. s. smithii, which inhabits Africa, and H. s. filifera, found in southern and southeastern Asia. While generally sedentary, populations in Pakistan and northern India migrate southward during winter.

The genus name "Hirundo" is Latin for swallow, and "smithii" is in honor of Christen Smith, a Norwegian botanist.

These birds are quite striking in appearance. They feature iridescent blue upperparts, white underparts, and a rich chestnut cap. Juveniles display a brown crown, back, and tail. The Asian subspecies, H. s. filifera, is slightly larger than the African subspecies, H. s. smithii.

Wire-tailed swallows are frequently found near water sources and around human habitations. They are agile fliers and keen insectivores, particularly fond of catching flies mid-air. One might often observe them darting low over water surfaces.

For nesting, these swallows construct half-bowl nests using mud, typically on vertical surfaces near water, such as cliff ledges or buildings. They generally lay three to four eggs in Africa and up to five in Asia. They prefer solitary nesting and exhibit territorial behavior.

These birds belong to the genus Hirundo, which also includes the well-known barn swallows. The subspecies H. s. smithii and H. s. filifera were first described in the early 19th century.