Purple Martin

18-23 cm (7-9") Locally common in open woodlands or agricultural land where suitable multicelled nesting houses are available. Native Americans were first to put out hollow gourds for nesting birds.

Male: head and body uniformly dark, shiny purplish-blue; wings and tail black.

Female and Immature: gray throat and breast; whitish belly; dull purple back; black wings and tail.

In flight; resemble European Starling (triangular wings), but note forked tail. Larger, broader winged and soars more than other swallows.

Song: liquid rolling twitter.

Videos

Images

Credit: Len Blumin

Credit: Dave Govoni

Credit: Henry T. McLin

Credit: Rick Leche

Distribution Maps

Purple Martin distribution map