Purple Martin

(Progne subis)

Conservation Status
Purple Martin
Photo by Trisha
  IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

     
  NatureServe

N5B - Secure Breeding

SNRB - Unranked Breeding

     
  Minnesota

Special Concern

Species in Greatest Conservation Need

     
           
 
Description
 
 

 

 
     
 

Size

 
 

7 to 8 in length

18 wingspan

 
     
 

Voice

 
   
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Semi-open areas, gardens, fields, often near water

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Migration

 
 

Early April to early October

 
     
 

Nesting

 
 

 

 
     
 

Food

 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common migrant and breeder

 
         
 

Maps

 
 

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Class Aves (birds)  
 

Order

Passeriformes (perching birds)  
 

Family

Hirundinidae (swallows and martins)  
 

Genus

Progne (New World martins)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

Desert Purple Martin (Progne subis hesperia)

Eastern Purple Martin (Progne subis subis)

Western Purple Martin (Progne subis arboricola)

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 
       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Trisha

 
 

Purple Martins, adults

 
    Purple Martin   Purple Martin  
           
    Purple Martin   Purple Martin  
           
 

Purple Martins, youth

 
    Purple Martin   Purple Martin  
           
    Purple Martin      
           
 

Purple Martins, in flight

 
    Purple Martin   Purple Martin  
           
    Purple Martin      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           
           

 

Camera

 

     
 
Slideshows
 

Purple Martin
Allen Chartier

  Purple Martin  

Purple Martin
JMC Nature Photos

  Purple Martin  
     

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
  The Annual Cycle of Purple Martins
Purple Martin
 
   
 
About

Published on Jan 7, 2013

www.purplemartin.org This video by Larry Melcher, gives a general explanation of how the Purple Martin depends on man. It explains the migration from early Spring when martins just arrive, completely through the nest cycle and includes pre-migratory roost footage as the Purple Martins begin their journey to winter grounds in South America.

 
  A Day with Purple Martins taken by the Wingscapes BirdCam
Wingscapes
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on May 24, 2007

The Wingscapes BirdCam http://www.wingscapes.com/ took this video of a day with purple martins.

A new Bird Camera, BirdCam 2.0 with Flash, is available at http://www.wingscapes.com. It takes photos and videos of backyard birds and wildlife while you are away.

Please feel free to leave comments and rate our videos.

 
  Bird houses for purple martins - David Attenborough - BBC wildlife
BBCWorldwide
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Feb 12, 2007

David Attenborough demonstrates how purple martins have found a habitat in American gardens and towns. From the BBC.

 
  Purple Martin Clip
BobBryarRulz
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Mar 18, 2008

Central Ohio Purple Martins (Waldo Ohio)

 
  Purple Martins
MObirds
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Aug 31, 2007

http://www.mdc.mo.gov/nathis/birds/emobirds/
http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/Documents/12199.pdf

Purple martins are among our most endearing birds.

Their cheerful, chattering calls, graceful flight and appetite for insects make them pleasant neighbors.

Purple martins are our largest swallows... measuring up to 8 inches long.

The martin's excellent flight allows them to catch insects from the air, sometimes catching several hundred insects an hour.

They prefer larger insects such as dragonflies and wasps, but also eat houseflies and mosquitoes.

The first males usually arrive in the Midwest during march.

The females join their partners a few days later, and nesting occurs from May to mid-July.

Martins usually leave by early September to travel to their wintering areas in southern Brazil.

 
       

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

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  Trisha
12/6/2016

: Purple Martins, adults

Purple Martin

 
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
   

 

 

Binoculars

 

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