Purple Martin

Progne subis

Order PASSERIFORMES - Family HIRUNDINIDAE

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1. Cool Facts
2. Description
3. Similar Species
4. Sound
5. Range
6. Habitat
7. Food
8. Behavior
9. Reproduction
10. Conservation Status
11. Other Names

The largest of the North American swallows, the Purple Martin is a popular tenant of backyard birdhouses. In fact, in eastern North America it has nested almost exclusively in nest boxes for more than 100 years.

Cool Facts

• Native Americans hung up empty gourds for the Purple Martin before Europeans arrived in North America. Purple Martins in eastern North America now nest almost exclusively in birdhouses, but those in the West use mostly natural cavities.

• Despite the term "scout" used for the first returning Purple Martins, the first arriving individuals are not checking out the area to make sure it is safe for the rest of the group. They are the older martins returning to areas where they nested before. Martins returning north to breed for their first time come back several weeks later. The earlier return of older individuals is a common occurrence in species of migratory birds.

• The Purple Martin is unusual among birds that use nest boxes; several pairs will nest in a single box with multiple compartments. However, one male will attempt to defend multiple compartments. Western martins are less likely to use boxes with multiple compartments.

• The Purple Martin not only gets all its food in flight, it gets all its water that way too. It skims the surface of a pond and scoops up the water with its lower bill.

• The Purple Martin Conservation Association supports the study of the Purple Martin, and has more information available on its web site. The Purple Martin Society of North America also provides information on martins and martin houses.

Description

• Size: 19-20 cm (7-8 in)
• Wingspan: 39-41 cm (15-16 in)
• Weight: 45-60 g (1.59-2.12 ounces)

• Large swallow; medium-sized songbird.
• Large head.
• Thick chest.
• Broad, pointed wings.
• Male entirely bluish-black.

• Short, slightly notched tail.
• Female dark on back, dirty gray underneath, chest darker than belly.

Sex Differences

Male all dark, female dingy below.

Male

Entirely glossy blue-black, above and below.

Female

Bluish black on back. Chest dingy gray brown. Belly paler dirty gray. Gray collar around back of neck.

Immature

Similar to female, but more drab and less bluish on back, underparts dirty white. Wing and tail feathers brown. First winter birds of both sexes resemble adult female. Yearling male has whiter belly and some dark blue feathers scattered on chest.

Similar Species

• Distinguished from other swallows by large size and stocky shape. No other swallow has a dark belly.
• European Starling is similarly shaped in flight, but flight is not so buoyant, and the bill is long and pale.

Sound

Song a series of musical chirps interspersed with raspy twitters.

»listen to songs of this species

Range

Summer Range

Breeds from Alberta to New Brunswick, southward to central Texas and Florida. Also in scattered locations along Pacific Coast, and in the deserts and mountains of the southwestern United States into Mexico.

Winter Range

Winters in South America, in lowlands east of the Andes.

Habitat

• Breeds near human settlements where nest houses are provided, especially near water and large open areas. Also in saguaro cactus, and in western montane forests around beaver ponds.
• In winter, feeds in rainforest, clearings, and agricultural areas; may roost in village plazas.

Food

Flying insects.

Behavior

Foraging

Catches insects in flight.

Reproduction

Nest Type

Nests in birdhouses, hole in tree, hole in cactus, or crevice in cliff or building. Nest made of twigs, plant stems, mud, and grass.

Egg Description

Color: White.

Size: 21.31-26.98 mm x 16.13-18.66 mm
(.84-1.1 in x .64-.73 in)

Incubation period: 15-18 days.

Clutch Size

Usually 3-6 eggs. Range: 1-8.

Condition at Hatching

Helpless and naked.
Chicks fledge in 28-29 days.

Conservation Status

Some populations are undergoing a long-term decline. Not listed as threatened or endangered anywhere.

Other Names

Hirondelle noire (French)
Golondrina grande negruzca, Golondrina azul americana (Spanish)

Sources used to construct this page:

Brown, C. R. 1997. Purple Martin (Progne subis). In The Birds of North America, No. 287 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.