Perch Supply
Swallows (Hirundinidae)

Purple Martin

Progne subis. Exclusively flying insects caught high in the air.

Purple Martin in flight showing iridescent dark plumage
Photo: Rhododendrites / Wikimedia Commons
Scientific name
Progne subis
Length
7.5–7.9 in
Weight
1.6–2.1 oz
Nest
In the East, nests almost entirely in human-supplied martin houses and gourds
Entrance hole
1 3/4–2 1/8 in round, or starling-resistant crescent (3 × 1 3/16 in)
Clutch
3–6 eggs
Incubation
15–18 days
Broods
1 per season

Identification

  • Adult male glossy blue-black all over
  • Females and first-year birds grey-brown with a pale, smudgy belly
  • Largest North American swallow, with broad pointed wings and a forked tail

Voice

Rich, gurgling chirps and croaks; males sing a pre-dawn song at colonies.

Diet and feeding

Exclusively flying insects caught high in the air.

What do purple martins eat?

Purple Martins by state and province

RegionStatusNesting
AlabamaSummer breederApril–July
AlbertaSummer breederJune–July
ArizonaSummer breederApril–July
ArkansasSummer breederMay–July
CaliforniaSummer breederApril–July
ConnecticutSummer breederMay–July
DelawareSummer breederMay–July
FloridaSummer breederMarch–July
GeorgiaSummer breederApril–July
IllinoisSummer breederMay–July
IndianaSummer breederMay–July
IowaSummer breederMay–July
KansasSummer breederMay–July
KentuckySummer breederMay–July
LouisianaSummer breederApril–July
MaineSummer breederJune–July
ManitobaSummer breederJune–July
MarylandSummer breederMay–July
MassachusettsSummer breederMay–July
MichiganSummer breederMay–July
MinnesotaSummer breederMay–July
MississippiSummer breederApril–July
MissouriSummer breederMay–July
NebraskaSummer breederMay–July
New BrunswickSummer breederJune–July
New HampshireSummer breederJune–July
New JerseySummer breederMay–July
New YorkSummer breederMay–July
North CarolinaSummer breederApril–July
North DakotaSummer breederJune–July
Nova ScotiaSummer breederJune–July
OhioSummer breederMay–July
OklahomaSummer breederMay–July
OntarioSummer breederMay–July
OregonSummer breederMay–July
PennsylvaniaSummer breederMay–July
Rhode IslandSummer breederMay–July
SaskatchewanSummer breederJune–July
South CarolinaSummer breederApril–July
South DakotaSummer breederMay–July
TennesseeSummer breederMay–July
TexasSummer breederMarch–July
VermontSummer breederJune–July
VirginiaSummer breederApril–July
WashingtonSummer breederMay–July
West VirginiaSummer breederMay–July
WisconsinSummer breederJune–July

Frequently asked

What do purple martins eat?

Exclusively flying insects caught high in the air. At feeders: crushed eggshells (calcium) offered on a tray near housing.

How big is a Purple Martin?

7.5–7.9 in long and 1.6–2.1 oz.

Do purple martins use birdhouses?

Yes — a 1 3/4–2 1/8 in round, or starling-resistant crescent (3 × 1 3/16 in) entrance, 6 × 6 in minimum (6 × 12 in preferred) floor, mounted 10–20 ft on a telescoping pole, 40+ ft from trees.

Sources

  1. Purple Martin — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Purple Martin life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Purple Martin — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
  4. Purple Martin Conservation Association — housing guidelines

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.