Purple Martins in Missouri
When purple martins are present in Missouri, when they nest, which native Missouri plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5b–7b yard.
- Status in Missouri
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5b–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 Missouri
Purple Martins are summer residents in Missouri, 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, from the Ozark Plateau in the south to prairie and river floodplains in the north.
Nesting in Missouri
Across Missouri, 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.
- 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 Missouri plants that attract purple martins
Of the regional native plants we track for Missouri, 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.
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Feeding purple martins through the Missouri 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 Missouri's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are purple martins in Missouri year-round?
No. Purple Martins are summer breeders in Missouri and leave for the winter.
When do purple martins nest in Missouri?
Nesting in Missouri 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 Missouri?
Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Spicebush, New England aster are native plants in Missouri 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 Missouri
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 — Missouri
- 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.