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Purple Martin

Progne subisOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Swallows (Hirundinidae)

Purple-Martin Portrait
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General

Purple Martin: Large, vocal swallow with glossy dark purple-blue body and forked tail. Female and juvenile have duller upperparts and mostly gray underparts, with paler throats, breasts, and bellies. First spring male resembles female but may show some purple and has darker throat.

Range and Habitat

Purple Martin: Breeds from British Columbia, central interior Canada, and Nova Scotia southward, but is absent from the interior western mountains and Great Basin. Spends winters in the tropics. Preferred habitats include open woodlands, residential areas, and agricultural lands.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"tee-tee-tee"

Interesting Facts

 The Purple Martin was first described in 1758 by Carolus Linnaeus, Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist.

 Native Americans hung up empty gourds for these birds to nest in before Europeans arrived in North America.

 Birds in eastern North America now nest almost exclusively in birdhouses, but those in the West use mostly natural cavities.

 A group of purple martins are collectively known as a "colony" of martins.



Author

Gary Owen Dick

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Range Map for Purple Martin
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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.
Family Swallow (Hirundinidae)_blue
Species Progne subis
Length7.25 - 8.5 Inches
Wingspan16.125 Inches

Purple Martin

Purple Martin: Large, vocal swallow with glossy dark purple-blue body and forked tail. It is the largest North American swallow. Black bill, legs and feet. Stong, graceful flight, alternates a few rapid wing beats with long glides. Catches and eats insects in flight and also forages on the ground.

● Song: "tee-tee-tee"

● Foraging & Feeding: Purple Martin: Feeds on flying insects; catches prey in mid-air, flying at up to 45 mph or more when foraging. Weather unfavorable for insect activity lasting three or more days puts it at risk of starvation.

● Breeding & nesting: Purple Martin: Three to eight white eggs are laid in a cavity lined with mud, grass, and other plant material. Most nest in colonies in man-made birdhouses in developed areas and parklands. Incubation ranges from 15 to 18 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Purple Martin: Male is distinct; female is larger and flaps more slowly than Bank and Northern Rough-winged swallows.

Flight Pattern

Strong with graceful flight.
Purple-Martin Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Purple Martin: Breeds from British Columbia, central interior Canada, and Nova Scotia southward, but is absent from the interior western mountains and Great Basin. Spends winters in the tropics. Preferred habitats include open woodlands, residential areas, and agricultural lands.
BreedingMonogamous, Colonial
PopulationDeclining
MigrationMigratory
Weight1.7 - 2 Ounces