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

Total length: 7 to 8

Wingspan: 18

Voice

The male song is a low liquid gurgling.

The most common call is a rich, descending cherr.

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)

Subfamily

Hirundininae

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

Hirundo subis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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
JMC Nature Photos

 

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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Binoculars