It has two subspecies: H. s. smithii, which occurs throughout Africa, and H. s. filifera, which is found in southern and southeastern Asia.

[2] The species name smithii commemorates Christen Smith, a Norwegian botanist and geologist.

Immature birds lack tail wires, and have dull brown (rather than chestnut) caps.

Wire-tailed swallows are fast flyers and they generally feed on insects, especially flies, while airborne.

They are placed on vertical surfaces near water under cliff ledges or nowadays more commonly on man-made structures such as buildings and bridges.