What are the features of the wire-tailed swallow?

            The most notable feature of a wire-tailed swallow is its tail, as its name indicates. It has two long feathers extending from the tail, called tail streamers. This is a small, lean bird with a blue-and-black plumage all over. The cap of its head is chestnut coloured.

            These birds prefer living near water and human settlements. They are found in pairs or in small scattered groups. They do not like to live in colonies, but build their nests individually, choosing a particular territory. But they roost with other varieties of swallows in tall grasses and bushes.

            Insects are the major diet of these birds. They catch their preys in the air, using their superior flying skills. These birds are commonly found perching on wires.

            These birds are very common in India, except in the Northeastern states and in the extreme south. The birds in northern India have been observed migrating towards the southern regions during winter.