Purple Martins in Delaware
When purple martins are present in Delaware, when they nest, which native Delaware plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 7a–8a yard.
- Status in Delaware
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 7a–8a
- Nest box
- 1 3/4–2 1/8 in round, or starling-resistant crescent (3 × 1 3/16 in) hole, 6 × 6 in minimum (6 × 12 in preferred) floor, 10–20 ft on a telescoping pole, 40+ ft from trees
When to expect purple martins in Delaware
Purple Martins are summer residents in Delaware, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on dragonflies, flies, beetles and moths; flying ants and wasps.
Humid subtropical to temperate coastal plain between Delaware Bay and the Atlantic.
Nesting in Delaware
Across Delaware, purple martins typically nest from May–July. Nest site: in the East, nests almost entirely in human-supplied martin houses and gourds. Females lay 3–6 eggs, incubate for 15–18 days, and young leave the nest after 26–32 days.
Hot, humid summers; bay-shore woodlots are important migrant stopovers in May.
- Have boxes cleaned and mounted before April — purple martins begin prospecting ahead of egg-laying.
- Use a 1 3/4–2 1/8 in round, or starling-resistant crescent (3 × 1 3/16 in) entrance on a 6 × 6 in minimum (6 × 12 in preferred) floor, mounted 10–20 ft on a telescoping pole, 40+ ft from trees.
- Fit a pole baffle or hole guard; ventilation gaps and drainage holes are essential.
- Clean out old nests after each brood and again after July.
Native Delaware plants that attract purple martins
Of the regional native plants we track for Delaware, these 8 provide food or cover purple martins use:
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover.
Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Feeding purple martins through the Delaware year
Purple Martins do not use feeders. Supporting them means supplying correctly built colony housing in the open and managing House Sparrows and starlings.
- Best foods: Crushed eggshells (calcium) offered on a tray near housing.
- Avoid: Seed and suet feeders — martins will not use them.
- In Delaware's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are purple martins in Delaware year-round?
No. Purple Martins are summer breeders in Delaware and leave for the winter.
When do purple martins nest in Delaware?
Nesting in Delaware typically runs May–July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 3–6 eggs, incubated for 15–18 days.
What native plants attract purple martins in Delaware?
Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush, New England aster are native plants in Delaware that provide food or cover for purple martins.
What size birdhouse hole do purple martins need?
1 3/4–2 1/8 in round, or starling-resistant crescent (3 × 1 3/16 in), with a floor of 6 × 6 in minimum (6 × 12 in preferred) mounted 10–20 ft on a telescoping pole, 40+ ft from trees.
Purple Martins in other regions
Other backyard birds in Delaware
Sources
- Purple Martin — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Purple Martin life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Purple Martin — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- Purple Martin Conservation Association — housing guidelines
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Delaware
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
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.