Diet
What do purple martins eat?
Exclusively flying insects caught high in the air.
Spring and summer diet
- Dragonflies, flies, beetles and moths
- Flying ants and wasps
Fall and winter diet
- Winters in South America — none in North America
Best feeder foods
- Crushed eggshells (calcium) offered on a tray near housing
Avoid
- Seed and suet feeders — martins will not use them
Purple Martins do not use feeders. Supporting them means supplying correctly built colony housing in the open and managing House Sparrows and starlings.
Frequently asked
What do purple martins eat?
Exclusively flying insects caught high in the air.
What is the best food to feed purple martins?
Crushed eggshells (calcium) offered on a tray near housing.
What should I not feed purple martins?
Seed and suet feeders — martins will not use them.
What do purple martins eat in winter?
Winters in South America — none in North America.
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
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.