The purple needletail (Hirundapus celebensis), or hagibas in Tagalog, is the largest swift found in the Old World.

[2] Only the white-naped swift rival this species for size and averages 5 g (0.18 oz) less than this needletail.

This species has the large size, white horseshoe-shaped underside-marking, and the subtly-needled tail typical of the needletails.

It is believed to take any kind of large, flying insect; sometimes even hanging around bee-farms to pick off members of a hive.

They are thought to be scarce to uncommon through most of their range, but are not endangered and can be numerous in some parts of the Philippines.