Wire-tailed Swallow

Hirundo smithii

Other Names

    Hirondelle à longs brins   Rotkappenschwalbe     Trådstjärtsvala   Roodkruinzwaluw   Rondine codafili

World: In Africa widespread S of 10°N although its range extends further along the Nile. Absent from the western equatorial lowland forests. In southern Asia it occurs from Tadzhikistan, Afghanistan and northern Pakistan through India to Burma as well as nw,ne Thailand, Laos and central Vietnam.

Kenya: Associated particularly with inland waters although it is uncommon in the Lake Victoria Basin. Mostly absent from the drier north (above 3°N).

There are 2 subspecies of Wire-tailed Swallow the African (Hirundo s. smithii) pictured above and the Asian (Hirundo s. filifera). This is a common and widespread species although it doesn't occur in great numbers, normally being seen in pairs near water. In fresh plumage it is highly distinctive with its very long outer tail feathers (the wires that give it its name). However, as in the individual pictured above, these are often broken or missing altogether.