Purple Martins in Massachusetts
When purple martins are present in Massachusetts, when they nest, which native Massachusetts plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5a–7b yard.
- Status in Massachusetts
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5a–7b
- 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 Massachusetts
Purple Martins are summer residents in Massachusetts, 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 continental with maritime influence on Cape Cod and the islands.
Nesting in Massachusetts
Across Massachusetts, 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.
Warm summers; nesting peaks late May to July.
- 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 Massachusetts plants that attract purple martins
Of the regional native plants we track for Massachusetts, 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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are purple martins in Massachusetts year-round?
No. Purple Martins are summer breeders in Massachusetts and leave for the winter.
When do purple martins nest in Massachusetts?
Nesting in Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts?
Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush, New England aster are native plants in Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts
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 — Massachusetts
- 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.