European Red-rumped Swallow is a scarce visitor to Britain & Ireland. Some individuals arrive in spring, overshooting their more southerly breeding sites, but others are reported from mid- to late-autumn.

European Red-rumped Swallow forms a species pair with its Asian counterpart, Eastern Red-rumped Swallow, with which it was considered a single species until 2025. European Red-rumped Swallow is a widespread breeding species across much of southern Europe, Africa, with its range extending eastwards to Pakistan. Northerly populations are migratory, while those in the south are mainly resident.