The genus "Phedina" is thought to be an early offshoot from the main swallow lineage, although their striped plumage suggests a distant relationship with several streaked African "Hirundo" species. In the past it has sometimes been suggested that Brazza's martin should be moved to its own genus "Phedinopsis" due to the significant differences in vocalisations and nest type from its relative. The nearest relative of the "Phedina" martins is the banded martin, "Riparia cincta", which appears not to be closely related to the other members of its current genus and resembles Brazza's martin in nesting habits and vocalisations. The current Association of European Rarities Committees (AERC)-recommended practice is to move the banded martin to its own genus as "Neophedina cincta", rather than to merge it into "Phedina", since the banded martin's larger size, different bill and nostril shape and non-colonial nesting are differences from the other "Phedina species".