Purple Martin
Progne subis
Visual Identification
Appearance
Purple Martins are the largest North American swallows. Adult males are unmistakable, with their glossy, iridescent purple-blue plumage covering most of their body. Their wings and tail are black, creating a striking contrast.
Females and immature birds are less colorful, with a mix of grey and brown upperparts and lighter underparts. They often have a faint collar and some purple sheen, though not as pronounced as in males.
Size
Length
18cm to 20cm
Wingspan
38cm to 46cm
Weight
45g to 60g
Habitat and Distribution
Habitats
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Distribution
Purple Martins breed across much of North America, from southern Canada to Mexico. They prefer open areas near water, including fields, parks, and wetlands. In eastern North America, they almost exclusively nest in human-provided housing.
During winter, Purple Martins migrate to South America, primarily to Brazil and surrounding countries. They can be found in both rural and urban areas, often roosting in large numbers in city centers before continuing their journey.
Elevation Range
Up to 3,200 meters
Climate zones
Temperate, Subtropical, Tropical
Distribution Map
This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Purple Martin. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
- Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
- This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations
We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:
- More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
- How birds move around during different seasons
Distribution by Region
Behaviour and Ecology
Bird Attributes
This feature is in beta. We'd love your feedback to improve it!
Share your thoughtsBird Attributes Explained
Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.
Attribute Categories:
- Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
- Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
- Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
- Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
- Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.
Understanding the Ratings:
- 0-20: Very Low
- 21-40: Low
- 41-60: Average
- 61-80: High
- 81-100: Very High
Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Agility
Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Purple Martins are highly agile aerial insectivores, capable of swift, acrobatic flight. Their ability to catch insects on the wing and reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour demonstrates exceptional manoeuvrability and agility in flight.
Strength
Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
As the largest North American swallows, Purple Martins possess moderate strength for their size. Their ability to migrate long distances and carry nesting materials suggests decent strength, though they are not known for particularly powerful physical feats.
Adaptability
Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Purple Martins show remarkable adaptability, especially in their nesting habits. In eastern North America, they've adapted to rely almost entirely on human-provided housing, demonstrating significant behavioural plasticity. Their ability to thrive in various habitats, from rural to urban areas, further showcases their adaptability.
Aggressiveness
Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
While Purple Martins can be territorial during breeding season, they are generally not considered highly aggressive birds. Their social nature, often seen in large flocks, suggests a relatively low aggression level. However, they may display some aggression when defending nesting sites.
Endurance
Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.
Purple Martins exhibit impressive endurance, particularly during their long-distance migrations between North and South America. Their ability to sustain flight for extended periods while hunting insects and their capacity for transcontinental journeys indicate high endurance levels.
Diet
Purple Martins are insectivores, feeding exclusively on flying insects caught in mid-air. Their diet includes dragonflies, damselflies, flies, midges, mayflies, and flying ants.
Contrary to popular belief, they do not significantly impact mosquito populations, as mosquitoes make up only a small portion of their diet.
Behaviour
Purple Martins are highly social birds, often seen in large flocks during migration and roosting. They are aerial insectivores, catching insects on the wing with remarkable agility.
These birds have a unique relationship with humans and rely heavily on man-made nesting structures in eastern North America.
Vocalisation
Purple Martins are known for their cheerful, chattering vocalizations. Their song is a series of rich, liquid chirps and gurgles, often described as 'choo-choo' or 'peew-peew'.
During courtship and territorial displays, males produce a distinctive 'dawn song', a complex series of chirps and warbles.
Nesting & Breeding
Purple Martins typically form monogamous pairs each breeding season. In eastern North America, they nest almost exclusively in human-provided housing, while western populations still use natural cavities.
Females lay 3-6 white eggs in a nest made of twigs, grass, and mud. Both parents participate in nest building, though females do most of the work.
Incubation lasts about 15-18 days, with both parents sharing duties. Nestlings fledge after about 26-31 days but may return to the nest to roost for several days after fledging.
Conservation and Status
Global Conservation Status
While Purple Martins are currently listed as Least Concern, they face challenges from habitat loss and competition with invasive species like European Starlings and House Sparrows.
Conservation efforts focus on providing and maintaining suitable nesting sites, particularly in eastern North America where they are almost entirely dependent on human-provided housing.
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for Purple Martins near open areas with water, such as fields, parks, and wetlands
- Listen for their distinctive chirping and chattering calls, especially near nesting sites
- Check purpose-built martin houses and gourds in suburban and rural areas
- Observe their acrobatic flight patterns as they hunt insects in the air
Additional Information
Quick Facts
Predators
Main predators include hawks, owls, snakes, and raccoons. In urban areas, domestic cats can also pose a threat, especially to fledglings.
Did You Know?
- Purple Martins in eastern North America depend almost entirely on human-provided nesting sites.
- They can reach flight speeds of up to 40 miles per hour.
- Purple Martins engage in 'creching,' where young from different nests gather in large groups.
Similar Birds
References
- 1
website: BirdLife International. 2016. Progne subis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22712098A94319217.
View source - 3
report, 2007: Breeding Bird Survey and/or Christmas Bird Count: Butcher and Niven
- 2
website, 2022: Partners in Flight
View source - 4
website: Longevity Records Of North American Birds. Version 2023.1
View source
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