the wire-like tail feathers are barely visible here (South Africa; 2007-06-30)


Wire-tailed Swallow
Hirundo smithii

Native Range: Africa and Oriental Region

Notes: this species gets its name from the long wire-like extensions of the deeply forked tail; a combination of chestnut crown and plain snowy-white underparts are also diagnostic fieldmarks for this species.

chestnut crown; snowy-white underparts (South Africa; 2007-06-30)
pair; no sexual dimorphism (South Africa; 2007-06-30)