Progne subis
male
The Purple Martin is a familiar songbird in North America. The sexes differ. Adult males are uniformly dark, with a purplish sheen visible in good light. Adult females have gray-brown upperparts with a suggestion of a bluish sheen, and mottled gray-brown underparts, palest as a patch on the belly. Juveniles are similar to an adult female but with much paler underparts. Males in their first spring of life retain a variable extent of juvenile plumage features. In flight, all birds have broadly triangular wings and a relatively long, forked tail.
The Purple Martin is present as a breeding species mainly from April to August; it is widespread in eastern North America but more scattered elsewhere. It spends the rest of the year in South America. In summer, the species is often associated with human settlement and responds well to the introduction of nestboxes. It catches flying insects on the wing.
female
male
FACT FILE
LENGTH 7–8 in (18–20 cm)
FOOD Insects
HABITAT Suburban habitats and open country
STATUS Locally common summer visitor
VOICE Song comprises a series of gurgling and croaking notes. Calls include a liquid chrrr and various whistles
